Neymar has insisted he did nothing to warrant a four-game Copa America ban as the Brazil and Barcelona forward recalls events against Colombia.
Referee Enrique Osses claimed Neymar was insulting towards him after an altercation following the final whistle of Brazil’s 1-0 defeat, the alleged exchange with the official said to be why Neymar was banned rather than the on-pitch scuffle.
“I waited to ask why he sent me off [then security stepped in]. I don’t know what they were thinking…that I was going to hit him or something and he ended up believing all this,” Neymar told Brazilian radio, Marca reports.
The referee’s report, however, claimed Neymar accused Osses of trying to make a name for himself by sending him off, and hurled profanity in his direction.
CONMEBOL’s decision to ban Neymar was based on the player waiting for the referee, which, they found, meant the insult was premeditated.
