Neymar has issued a public apology following his red card in Santos’ 1-0 home defeat to Botafogo on Sunday—a controversial moment that could mark the end of his current stint with the Brazilian club.
The 32-year-old forward was sent off in the 76th minute after receiving a second yellow card for deliberately handling the ball in an attempt to score. The goal was disallowed, and Santos, reduced to 10 men, conceded the match-winner in the 86th minute.
“Desperation to score a goal sometimes leads to mistakes,” Neymar admitted on Instagram. “I made a mistake, forgive me. If I hadn’t been sent off, I’m sure we would have gotten the three points.”
With his contract expiring in June and a suspension ruling him out of Santos’ final league game before the Club World Cup break, it’s uncertain whether Neymar will play again for the club during this tenure.
Though he accepted responsibility for the second yellow, Neymar criticized the first booking as harsh. “It’s incredible how many bad referees there are out there,” he commented, lightening the mood with a laughing emoji.
Santos now finds itself in deeper trouble, with only two wins in 11 league matches and sitting 18th in the table—firmly in the relegation zone. Neymar’s possible farewell comes as the club desperately fights for survival in Brazil’s top flight.
