This was probably the craziest sequence of the season in Brazil.
This Sunday, as Santos were trying to come back against Coritiba (0-3), Neymar was the victim of an unbelievable administrative blunder by the fourth official, who raised his number 10 on the substitution board instead of Gonzalo Escobar’s (number 31).
A major mistake that deprived Santos of their technical leader for the final minutes of this league match.
Stunned and furious, Neymar even snatched the official substitution slip from his staff’s hands to prove the fourth official’s mistake. He also held the piece of paper up to the cameras, clearly showing that the number written on it was 31 (Gonzalo Escobar) and not 10 (Neymar). The error was obvious.
It changed nothing: despite the written proof of the refereeing error and the general chaos on the Santos bench, the decision stood.
Forced to make way for Robinho Jr, the controversial number 10 left the pitch absolutely furious, blasting officiating that was completely overwhelmed by events.
For the record, this was Neymar’s last match before Carlo Ancelotti’s World Cup squad list was announced. This “last chance” game truly turned sour: a 3-0 defeat and an angry outburst.
