Neymar becomes first player sent off briefly under Brazil’s anti-time-wasting trial

Santos captain Neymar became the first player in Brazil’s Serie A to be required to leave the field for a minute under a new rule designed to discourage goalkeepers from wasting time.

The measure is being tested in the Brazilian top flight and is also due to be introduced in other competitions, including the Premier League. It applies when a goalkeeper stops play to receive medical treatment.

Once the game resumes, the coach must immediately nominate an outfield player to leave the pitch for one minute. If the coach does not name a player within 10 seconds, the team captain is required to serve the temporary absence instead.

The rule was used for the first time in Brazil’s top division during Santos’ 3-0 victory over Vasco on Sunday. Santos goalkeeper Gabriel Brazao requested medical attention, bringing the new procedure into operation.

Santos coach failed to nominate an outfield player within the permitted 10-second period, meaning Neymar, as captain, was instructed by the referee to leave the field.

The incident makes Neymar the first player affected by the trial in Brazil’s Serie A. The rule does not involve a traditional sending-off, but requires a player to remain off the pitch for one minute after play has restarted.

Its purpose is to penalise teams when a goalkeeper’s treatment causes a stoppage that is considered part of a time-wasting tactic. The responsibility initially rests with the coach, who can choose any outfield player to serve the temporary sanction. However, the captain automatically takes the place of that player if no nomination is made within the 10-second window.

The trial is intended to be used beyond Brazil, with the Premier League among the competitions where the measure will also be implemented. The Santos-Vasco match provided the first top-flight example of how the rule operates in competitive play.

Neymar, 34, has also been involved with Brazil this year. He made two appearances as a substitute at the World Cup and scored a late penalty in Brazil’s 2-1 defeat by Norway in the round of 16.

His brief spell off the pitch against Vasco therefore marked a different kind of first in his career: he became the inaugural player in Brazil’s Serie A to be removed under the anti-time-wasting rule.