CAS rejects appeal over Neymar Brazil ban

Brazil FA’s final appeal to have their captain Neymar available for the country’s upcoming two World Cup qualifying fixtures with Chile and Venezuela has been rejected by CAS.

Neymar’s four-match worldwide ban has been upheld after Brazil took his case all the way to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

He will now miss Russian Federation 2018 qualifiers against Chile on October 8 and Venezuela on October 13.

The Brazilian Football Confederation said it had asked CAS to allow Neymar to serve out the rest of his suspension at the 2019 Copa America instead, arguing that the rules of that tournament specify that the punishment can not be applied to other events.

In June, Neymar received two yellow cards and then a red card after he appeared to head-butt an opponent as he left the field following Brazil’s 1-0 loss to Colombia in a Copa America group-stage game.

CAS went on to confirm it would explain the decision to reject the CBF’s appeal at a later date. The Confederation for Brazilian Football had wanted the ban enforced only at the next Copa America.

Neymar will return for Brazil’s third World Cup qualifier against Argentina on November 13 in Buenos Aires.