Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar has been suspended for two matches for hitting Olympique de Marseille player Alvaro Gonzalez in the back of his head during their Ligue 1 match last Sunday.
The French football authorities have also opened a probe into the PSG player’s claims that he was racially abused by Gonzalez during the game.
Neymar was sent off upon receiving a red card when he hit Gonzalez in the back of the head. He told officials that the Spaniard had used a racial slur prompting him to retaliate. Gonzalez , however, has denied the accusation.
Twelve yellow cards and five reds were given in the match, which Marseille won 1-0, when players of both sides kicked and punched each other.
The Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) disciplinary committee has said that it will investigate the claims made by the PSG striker and study the TV footage of the match to determine what transpired between Neymar and Gonzalez.
The committee has also summoned PSG’s Angel Di Maria, who has been accused by Marseille of spitting on Gonzalez. The incident will be reviews next week, they said.
In addition, PSG’s Layvin Kurzawa was suspended for six matches for punching and kicking Marseille’s Jordan Amavi, who has also been banned for three matches for retaliating.
PSG midfielder Leandro Paredes was banned for two matches, while Marseille striker Dario Benedetto was handed a one-match ban.
It is yet to be confirmed if PSG and Marseille plan on appealing the sanctions.
