Neymar Facing Potential 6-Month Ban After Santos Appeal to FIFA over Transfer

Brazilian side Santos have reportedly made a request to FIFA to suspend former player Neymar for six months as part of demands relating to the forward’s transfer to current club Barcelona.

According to Sport, Santos feel “betrayed” by the Brazil skipper after what they feel was a “contract breach” when he joined the Blaugrana in the summer of 2013. They’re also said to be chasing compensation in the region of €55 million (£40.5 million) in addition to the lengthy suspension for the winger.

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Santos confirmed in a statement they are looking to claim compensation, but there was no mention of any request for Neymar be banned from playing, per AS:

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FIFA are responsible in evaluating a possible failing in contractual obligation and they must implement the measures that are constituted in the stipulated regulations. On May 29, Santos FC announced a claim which was presented to FIFA surrounding a possible infraction of the contact that saw Neymar Junior transfer to Futbol Club Barcelona. The background to the player's move to Spain is widely known. Santos FC is to bring no additional claim to FIFA apart from that which is currently in hand.

The club solely wishes to protect its legal rights and has the full intention of claiming compensation for the damage it suffered. FIFA’s arbitrary commission is responsible in evaluating if contract rules were broken and if so, we request that they implement punishment in accordance with the governing regulations. Santos FC have no control on how FIFA conduct this case. In accordance with the rules of the CBF, the content of the claim is confidential and there will be no further announcement regarding the ongoing procedure.

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Santos’ issues were explained in more detail in the piece in Sport: “Neymar’s accused by Santos of infringing Article 63 of FIFA’s Code of Discipline. In the same document they talk of the player’s 'bad faith' in violating different articles of FIFA’s transfer rules—articles 17(3) and 17(5) to be more specific.”

Neymar has maintained his innocence despite the claims from his former employers, suggesting he only moved to Barcelona after striking an agreement with Santos. According to Sport, the 23-year-old has a letter from former Santos President Luis Alvaro de Oliveira that permitted him to negotiate with the Primera Division giants.

Santos announced they were to take action against their former player, his father and Barcelona earlier in the year, suggesting they were misled in negotiations by the Catalans, per Goal. They argue the €17.1 million (£12.5 million) they received of what they thought was an overall fee of €57 million (£42 million) should be upped in light of the revelations regarding the transfer’s true overall value.

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The fee Barcelona paid for Neymar was initially reported to be €57 million (£42 million), but an investigation later revealed the amount was closer to €86.2 million (£63.5 million), per the MailOnline.

In a separate case, reported by Catalunya Radio (h/t the Guardian), former Barca president Sandro Rosell and current president Josep Maria Bartomeu were asked to provide a written response to allegations of tax fraud relating to the deal, with suggestions the Spanish exchequer lost out on €12.7 million (£9.5 million) as part of the transfer.

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It’s claimed by Sport that it’s unclear as to when FIFA will make a judgement.

Neymar has been a big hit since joining the Blaugrana, helping the team to Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey glory in his second season at the club. His most recent appearance for the team, a 2-1 defeat to Sevilla, was his 100th in a Barcelona jersey.