Neymar has frequently expressed frustration with refereeing decisions following his team’s losses. In the 2019 UEFA Champions League, after Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) defeat to Manchester United, Neymar criticized the awarding of a late penalty to United, labeling the video assistant refereeing (VAR) system as “a disgrace.”
Similarly, in a 2014 World Cup quarter-final against Colombia, Neymar suffered a back injury from a knee to the spine by Colombian defender Juan Camilo Zúñiga. Following the match, Neymar’s teammate, Thiago Silva, defended Zúñiga, stating that he is not the type of player who would purposely cause an injury to any player.
These incidents highlight Neymar’s tendency to attribute his team’s setbacks to perceived officiating errors, reflecting his passion for fair play and his commitment to his team’s success.