New football rule applied to Neymar for the first time

Neymar became the first player to leave the field due to the new football rule.

In the 23rd round of the Brazilian championship, Santos defeated Vasco da Gama 3-0 away. The Sao Paulo club scored three goals in the last 20 minutes and won an important victory.

One of the most notable events of the match was Neymar's one-minute absence due to the new rule.

Santos goalkeeper Gabriel Brazao requested medical attention during the match and doctors entered the field. The referee assessed the situation as an attempt to prolong the time.

According to the new rule, the team coach must temporarily replace one of the players on the field while the goalkeeper is receiving medical attention. If a player is not selected within 10 seconds, the team captain will leave the field for one minute. Therefore, Santos captain Neymar was temporarily suspended.

This rule is aimed at preventing time delays in football matches under the pretext of injuries and medical treatment. It was introduced at the 2026 World Cup and was later introduced at the Brazilian Championship.

There are some exceptions to the rule. For example, if a goalkeeper is injured in a situation that results in a free kick, if a goalkeeper and a field player collide and both require medical attention, or if a player is bleeding, the one-minute suspension does not apply.

Neymar played the entire match and was directly involved in Santos' last two goals. After this victory, the team has accumulated 25 points in 22 games and has left the lower league zone of the Brazilian Championship.