Neymar is forced to leave the pitch for 60 seconds under a new rule targeting goalkeeper time-wasting during a trial in Brazil’s top leagues. Reports say the incident happens when the Santos goalkeeper requires medical attention, prompting the referee to apply the measure that compels the opposing player to go off the field for a set period.
The rule is being tested as a way to reduce delays and improve the pace of matches. One outlet describes Neymar as the first player affected under the trial in Brazil’s Serie A, while another notes it as a Premier League-related trial described through the same rule framework. The accounts align on the duration of the forced departure—one minute—but differ in emphasis on which competition is trialing the rule and the exact match context in which it is enforced.
Overall, the incident marks an early, high-profile example of how the rule is applied in live games when a goalkeeper’s stoppage triggers the procedure.
