Paris, Dec. 29 (BNA): Neymar was sent off in Paris Saint-Germain’s 2-1 win over Strasbourg after the Brazil forward dived into the penalty area in the second half on Wednesday in his first match since the World Cup.
Neymar earned his first yellow card in the 61st minute after holding Strasbourg midfielder Adrian Thomasson in the face with his hand and then a second yellow card a minute later for diving.
The attacker protested face to face with referee Clement Turbin, but to no avail.
It is Neymar’s fifth red card since joining Paris Saint-Germain for a world record fee of 222 million euros ($236 million) in 2017, and he will be suspended from action on Sunday along with second-placed Lens.
No other player has been sent off so often in Ligue 1 since the 2017-18 season.
Neymar, who was in tears after Brazil lost to Croatia in the quarter-finals of the World Cup, set up the opening goal for Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes for compatriot Marquinhos early on with a victory that Kylian Mbappe sealed from a penalty kick in stoppage time.
Neymar did not continue to see him. Canal Plus TV said Neymar left the field just minutes after he was sent off.
Neymar has 11 league goals and 10 assists as league leaders Paris Saint-Germain are unbeaten this season.