Brazil's sports tribunal has suspended Neymar for two matches for covering his mouth while arguing with an opponent.

The incident occurred during a Santos game against Bahia last weekend. The tribunal said the forward's actions violated a protocol named after Vinicius Junior, known as the ‘Vinicius Law’.

The Real Madrid winger earlier this year accused Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni of racially abusing him while covering his mouth with his shirt during a Champions League match.

Neymar’s suspension was handed down on Wednesday. In total, Neymar will be out for three matches.

The first of those is for an accumulation of yellow cards, and the other two are for covering his mouth.

Neymar will serve the suspension for accumulated yellow cards against Palmeiras in the Brazilian league on Wednesday, and he is not expected to be back in action until late November.

Neymar and Santos can appeal the suspension for covering his mouth.

Neymar has endured a stop-start 2026, scoring eight goals in 15 appearances in Brazil’s Serie A, but battling with multiple injury setbacks across the course of the year.

His form in the first part of the year earned him a recall to the Brazilian national team for the World Cup, but he failed to shine on the global stage after missing the opening games of the tournament through injury.

Neymar ended up making just two substitute appearances at the World Cup and scored a penalty against Norway, but this was not enough to prevent Brazil from exiting the competition in the Round of 16 following defeat by their European opponents.

After the tournament, Neymar announced that his international career was over after scoring 80 goals in 130 caps for his country.

"I think my time with the national team has already passed. I made history there, and I'm very happy about it. I experienced a lot there, gave my blood and my life, and always fought and battled for the yellow jersey. But I don't think I want it anymore," he told reporters.

Those comments followed an emotional interview he gave to Brazilian broadcaster ge in the aftermath of Brazil’s World Cup exit, where he stated: "I tried, I tried. Now it's over."