Paris Saint-Germain striker Neymar was banned for three matches Friday with a further two-match ban suspended for lashing out at a fan following the club’s shock defeat in the French Cup final.
Announcing the ban, the French football federation said thesanction would go into effect from May 13 allowing the Brazilian superstar toappear for the French champions against Angers in Ligue 1 on Saturday.
But he will miss the last two games of the domestic seasonand the French Champions Trophy pitting PSG against their cup final conquerorswinners Rennes in Shenzhen, China in August.
Neymar swung at an abusive opposing fan while climbing thesteps to receive his French Cup final losers medal following the shock defeatto Rennes on penalties last month.
On a nightmare night for PSG, Rennes came back from 2-0 downto 2-2 at the end of regulation time, forcing extra time and penalties.
Meanwhile, Neymar has appealed against another ban, thistime a three-match Champions League ban imposed by European football’sgoverning body UEFA.
He was punished for an angry outburst at match officials ofPSG’s last-16 tie against Manchester United in March.
PSG lost following a last-minute penalty award to thePremier League side after a VAR review of a disputed handball appeal.Neymar did not play in the match through injurybut took to social media to call the penalty award a “scandal” andaccuse the VAR referees of incompetence.