KEIR RADNEDGE in PARIS: Neymar’s summer has tumbled from one crisis to another after an ankle injury ruled him out of the imminent Copa America in Brazil.
The Paris Saint-Germain star was carried off after being injured in the 17th minute of a 2-0 friendly win over Qatar.
Brazilian CBF sources denied that the injury was diplomatic, to remove Neymar from the limelight after his highly publicised problems after rape allegations against him.
Neymar has denied a complaint registered against him with police in Sao Paulo by a 26-year-old Brazilian woman, Najila Trindade, who claimed he had assaulted her in a hotel in the French capital.
He must now answer to questioning by local police after uploadng a video of the woman to social media to try to prove he had been trapped. Neymar may face charges of breaching laws on the publication of inappropriate images. The offence can carry a sentence of between one and five years in jail.
Team-mates, led by Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho, and Brazilian confederation president Rogerio Caboclo, have all expressed their confidence in Neymar and belief that he was the victim of a set-up.
Neymar Senior, the player’s father, told Brazilian media that reports of Trindade’s injuries would have been due to his son’s action in fighting her off.
The headlines back in France have made grim reading for the Qatari owners of Paris Saint-Germain who are having to cope with a stream of incidents.
In the past six weeks Neymar has incurred suspensions from European federation UEFA for abusive comments about match officials and also from the French federation for slapping a jeering fan as he collected his loser’s medal in the domestic cup final.
At the weekend sources in Barcelona claimed the Spanish champions were considering a bid to buy Neymar back from PSG. They may now be having second thoughts.
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