PSG playmaker and oft-controversial star Neymar has taken to Twitter to counter Marseille’s Alvaro Gonzalez and made stunning claims as to what was said that sparked the ugly brawl that saw five players including the Brazilian sent off.
The Paris Saint-Germain star was issued marching orders for slapping Gonzalez in the back of the head in late drama that marred Marseille’s 1-0 win.
As Neymar headed off he complained to the fourth official that his actions had been prompted by confrontational racist language directed at him by Gonzalez.
“He was being a racist, that’s why I hit him,” he alleged.
Neymar to social media to clear the air, claiming that he was called a ‘monkey motherf***er’ and regretted he had not punched ‘ar******’ Gonzalez in the face.
“VAR spotting my ‘attack’ is easy, Now I want to see it pick up the image of the racist calling me “MONO HIJO DE PUTA” (monkey motherf***er). That’s what I want to see. And then?,” he tweeted.
“I do a rainbow flick, you punish me .. For a slap, I get sent off … what about them? What then?”
‘My only regret is not hitting that a*****e in the face,’ tweeted Neymar earlier.
Marseille boss Andre Villas-Boas did not confirm Neymar’s racism claim when questioned post-game but admitted:
“Racism is unacceptable in football.”
Gonzalez himself also took to social media to defend himself with his statement coming before the Neymar’s allegations in response to the Marseille star’s online defence of himself.
“There is no place for racism. A clean career and with many team-mates and friends on a day to day basis. Sometimes you have to learn how to lose and accept it on the field. Incredible three points today, Allez l’OM thank you family,” he tweeted.
It is the first time since the 1984-85 season that PSG lost their first two Ligue One matches.
Layvin Kurzawa and Leandro Paredes were given red cards along with Neymar for PSG while Marseille’s Jordan Amavi and Dario Benedetto were also given their marching orders.