Neto suspended for Juventus’ clash with Cagliari after Brazil refereeing incident

Neto will miss Juventus’ Serie A meeting with Cagliari on Sunday after being suspended for an incident during his time with Brazilian club Botafogo.

The goalkeeper recently returned to Turin to cover for Grabara, whose season has ended after he suffered a cruciate ligament injury. However, Neto will not be available to Luciano Spalletti for Juventus’ game against Cagliari.

The suspension relates to an incident on 30 May, when Botafogo played Bahia in Brazil. Referee Davi de Oliveira Lacerda showed Neto a red card at half-time after the goalkeeper objected to a corner being awarded to the opposition.

The corner was given because Neto had held on to the ball for more than eight seconds.

According to the referee’s report, Neto directed insulting language towards him. The incident resulted in the goalkeeper’s dismissal and disciplinary proceedings being opened.

Neto had initially faced the possibility of a four-match suspension for offending the dignity of the refereeing team. However, Brazil’s Superior Court of Sports Justice accepted a request from his lawyer to reduce the punishment and reclassify the offence as a simple insult.

The revised sanction was reduced to a one-match suspension, which Neto must serve before making his competitive debut for Juventus.

Spalletti will therefore rely on Carlo Pinsoglio as the substitute goalkeeper against Cagliari.