Neymar ‘restrained by PSG staff’ as he tried to confront referee and his fellow match officials following Champions League exit to Manchester United
- Neymar’s anger on Wednesday night saw him ‘restrained’ behind the scenes
- The Brazilian is alleged to have tried to storm into the officials’ office after loss
- A VAR penalty handed Manchester United the goal they needed to go through
- Neymar later took to his Instagram page to take aim at referee Dario Skomina
Neymar had to be ‘restrained by club staff’ after the Brazilian watched on as Paris Saint-Germain were dramatically dumped out of the Champions League by Manchester United.
The £198million man was on the sidelines at the Parc des Princes as he continues to recover from a metatarsal injury he sustained in January.
And according to RMC Sport, the player’s anger at the dramatic exit spilled over into the tunnel afterwards.
Neymar was ‘restrained by PSG staff’ after the Champions League defeat to Man United
Damir Skomina’s decision was a source of frustration for Neymar, who labelled it ‘shameful’
Neymar missed the game through injury and was left livid on the touchline at the end
The report states that Neymar angrily ‘tried to enter the referees’ office’ as his frustration at Dario Skomina’s late penalty award – which was given via the interference of VAR.
According to eye-witnesses, who spoke to RMC, Neymar is alleged to have forced his way through the corridor to the officials’ office and had to be restrained by members of the PSG staff outside the door.
Club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi was also left seething, according to the RMC report, after seeing another Champions League campaign go up in smoke.
PSG chief Nasser Al-Khelaifi (L), according to RMC Sport, also took his anger out in the tunnel
Handball was given against Presnel Kimpembe after Diogo Dalot’s effort struck his arm
Neymar, watching from the stands initially before standing on the touchline, was outraged
The Qatari chief let his anger out, bashing against a door which evidenced the frustration generated by this defeat.
The pair’s grievances stemmed from another failed campaign but the contentious issue of the night surrounded an injury-time penalty.
The referee judged that a handball from Presnel Kimpembe had been deliberate and after consultation with VAR in the form of a pitchside review, the decision and was given and United progressed on away goals.
While much of the RMC report is focused on the outburst in the bowels of the Parc des Princes, it also highlights the moment Neymar became a confidant to devastated team-mates – and also his wounded manager.
Neymar and boss Thomas Tuchel are reported to have embraced in a hug which goes against suggestions in recent months that the Brazilian could be angling for an exit under the former Borussia Dortmund boss.
Neymar would find himself lucky to escape a ban from UEFA, not just for his actions behind the scenes but also for his comments immediately after the full-time whistle on Wednesday.
Skomina consulted VAR for more than two minutes before deciding to give United a penalty
Neymar put up an outburst on social media, claiming the officials ‘do not understand football’
The Brazilian hit out at the decision of the officials in his Instagram story on Wednesday night
The Brazilian was livid with the referee and blasted him, writing on Instagram: ‘This is a disgrace, they put four people that know nothing about football in charge of looking at the replay for VAR.
‘There is no penalty. How can it be a handball when it hits his back! Go f*** yourselves!’
PSG were knocked out of the Champions League at the last-16 stage by Real Madrid last season and continue to fall short in the tournament they want most of all.
Neymar’s side are still set to win Ligue 1 at a canter and also have a chance of glory in the Coupe de France.
However, it is the Champions League in which they wanted to prevail the most, in order to demonstrate how far they have progressed under Qatari ownership.
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