Neymar gesture prompts row at Vila Belmiro as Santos beaten 3-2 by Fluminense | OneFootball

Neymar left the pitch with his hands over his ears amid boos as Santos lost 3-2 to Fluminense at Vila Belmiro, a gesture that sparked debate. According to Globo.com, some supporters felt he was trying to block the jeers, while the forward later said he was simply scratching his ear.

Santos led twice, through Gabigol then Barreal, but Fluminense hit back via Savarino and Castillo before John Kennedy settled it late on. The defeat came in the 12th round of the Campeonato Brasileiro.

Neymar endured a quiet afternoon and missed a clear chance at 2-2.

The player said in a post that he had not been covering his ears and that he had only scratched them. He later reiterated the point on his own account with a video of his walk to the dressing room, adding that criticism had gone too far and was hard to bear.

On Tuesday he argued with Santos supporters after a 1-1 draw with the reserve team of Paraguay’s Recoleta in the Copa Sudamericana.

Two days later, members of an organised supporters’ group entered the CT Rei Pelé to confront the coaching staff, the squad and Neymar. Santos now sit 15th on 13 points, close to the relegation zone.

Source: Globo.com