RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) - Forced out of the Copa America by injury, star striker Neymar faces an uncertain playing future in Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil where he is engulfed in an alleged rape scandal.
The player vehemently denies the accusation, which has dominated headlines and dogged Brazil's preparations for the Latin American tournament which starts on June 14.
Here's what could happen next for the world's most expensive footballer.
1. Image tarnished
Beyond the potential sporting consequences of missing Copa America, Neymar's image has taken a serious blow.
Shortly before the 27-year-old player was injured in the Brazil-Qatar friendly in Brasilia on Wednesday, his accuser told a Brazilian broadcaster that she had been the victim of "aggression together with rape".
Hours later, a video circulated on social media showing the young woman hitting Neymar in a hotel room and accusing him of assaulting her the day before.
Sponsors are clearly worried. Mastercard has cancelled an advertising campaign starring Neymar that was to be broadcast during the Copa America, Spanish media reported. Nike expressed its "deep concern" on Monday.
Â
Â
Â
"Only football can save him," Fox Sports commentator Paulo Vinicius Coelho told AFP.
"It's enough that he focuses on his game. He showed this season with PSG that he is still capable of playing great matches."
2. Fake or fate?
Few Brazilian football fans or commentators appear to believe Neymar faked his injury so he could pull out of the Copa America due to the rape allegation.
"I don't believe in a fake injury, for me the image clearly evokes a ruptured ankle ligament," Coelho said.
But the timing raised eyebrows, coming shortly after a senior Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) official had publicly suggested that Neymar would pull out of the tournament. CBF vice-president Francisco Noveletto was quoted by Brazilian media on Tuesday as saying he was willing to "bet" that Neymar would quit.
"He doesn't have the psychological condition to face the Copa America and journalists," Noveletto said.
That prompted CBF president Rogerio Caboclo to insist on Wednesday - for the second time this week - that Neymar would play in the tournament despite the rape accusations.
While some social media users looked to conspiracy theories to explain Neymar's injury, most put the incident down to fate.
"Fate has brought a solution to a problem that neither (coach) Tite nor the CBF or Neymar himself had the courage to solve for the sake of the Brazilian team and especially the player - to remove him from the eye of the storm," wrote a Twitter user.
3. Sidelined
Neymar is scheduled to return to the football field with PSG on Aug 3 for the Champions Trophy game against Rennes in Shenzhen, China.
But it is not clear if he will have physically recovered by then. It took Real Madrid youngster Vinicius Junior, who suffered a ruptured ankle ligament in March, two months to return to the game.
And there is also the chance Neymar could miss the match for a non-sporting reason as he faces police investigations stemming from the alleged rape.
Â
"I ask myself why he has had so many physical hiccups in recent years when he was injured very little early in his career," Coelho said, referring to the foot injuries that sidelined Neymar for several months this year and last season.
Rumours have circulated in recent weeks that Neymar could return to FC Barcelona, but his recurring injuries and tarnished image could put off the Catalan club where Neymar played from 2013 to 2017 before his record €222 million (S$341.5 million) transfer to PSG.
Brazil's national coach Tite, who has described Neymar as "indispensable" to the national team, but also not "irreplaceable", is looking for a substitute.
Vinicius Junior or Lucas could be called up. Another alternative is Ajax Amsterdam's David Neres.
May 23, 2019 · Thailand's Richest Japan's Richest How Football Can Become A Game Changer For Girls' Leadership. head coach in Right To Play's Lebanese program, Generation Amazing, is a powerful example
Coaching Game Changers
Juve foiled by Gervinho brace after leading 3-1 Advertisement MILAN, Feb 3: Parma forward Gervinho scored twice as his team hit back from 3-1 behind on Saturday to draw 3-3 at Serie A leaders Juventus who dropped points for only the third time in the league this season.
Three-times champions Iran came through an early scare before marching confidently into the Asian Cup quarter-finals for the 13th time in 14 attempts with a 2-0 victory over a spirited Oman team. on Sunday. Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand saved an Oman penalty in the opening minute but a goal from winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh and a successful
Soccer: Jahanbakhsh on target as Iran ease past Oman into
SINGAPORE - Former Singapore star striker Fandi Ahmad is set for a return to Malaysian football. Fandi will join the Johor FA team as technical director, after an invitation by the crown prince of the Malaysian state, Tunku Mahkota Ismail ibni Sultan Ibrahim, who took over as president of the Johor FA last week.
Sky Sports Premier League, Cardiff City Stadium He may not want to take that risk here as Chelsea look to bounce back from their defeat at Everton two weeks ago, which would keep them within
Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham handed top-four boost as
In Summary. Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero will travel with the rest of their squad for their FA Cup semi-final against Brighton and Hove Albion having nearly recovered from a hamstring
Man City's Aguero in frame to face Brighton in FA Cup
Football. Manchester United. Wolverhampton Wanderers. Hungry Wolves beat 10-man Manchester United 2-1, again. Wolves quickly settled down on a cold and raucous night at Molineux and began
Hungry Wolves beat 10-man Manchester United 2-1 - Football
Football: PSG buy Argentina midfielder Paredes for estimated
Mauricio Pochettino feels his two-match touchline ban for confronting referee Mike Dean is "completely unfair". Tottenham boss Pochettino was seen arguing at length with Dean following a 2-1
Mauricio Pochettino labels two-game touchline ban 'completely
Interest Barcelona (Spain), Feb. 21, 2019 (Reuters/NNN) Spanish La Liga's organising body says it does not expect its President, Javier Tebas, to jump ship to the English Premier League (EPL). The declaration was in response to British media reports that the Spaniard has emerged as a candidate to become the English top-flight's chief executive.
LaLiga unaware of Premier League interest in Tebas
Kaya v Lao Toyota - MATCH DETAILS: Location : Upcoming Information:AFC Cup 30.04.2019
Football: Guardiola tips City as comeback 'heroes'
Cesar Luis Menotti Named Director Of Argentina National Teams
Solari denies La Liga title race is over after Real Madrid suffer shock home loss to Girona. But even though Madrid's shock home loss to struggling Girona last weekend ended a five-game winning
Cristiano Ronaldo wrong to say Real Madrid are not humble
Dutch pair Virgil van Dijk and Vivianne Miedema are the first players from the same country to win PFA Player of the Year awards in the same year. Dutch duo Virgil van Dijk and Vivianne Miedema have won the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year awards for 2018-19. Liverpool defender Van Dijk, 27, beat Raheem Sterling
Virgil van Dijk and Raheem Sterling win PFA Player of the
0 comments:
Post a Comment