Dhis yellow card was like an insult to Neymar. The Brazilian pro has vented his anger at referee Daniel Siebert with an unprecedented internet campaign. In a series of tweets on social networks, the referee accused the referee of “total lack of respect” and scolded: “This must not happen!” He had “done nothing” but had been “harmed”.
Siebert had shown the 30-year-old a yellow card in the Champions League game between Paris St. Germain and Maccabi Haifa (3-1) after he scored the final score (88th minute). The reason: Neymar’s famous clown cheers. Siebert probably felt this as disrespectful to the home supporters.
“It only happens to me. Next time I’ll tell the referee beforehand,” Neymar said in a video on his Instagram story. Both there and on Twitter, where he has a total of around 235 million fans, he posted a photo of his jubilation. Neymar sticks out his tongue and holds both hands next to his face.
The attacker protested against the warning during the game. After that, he ran even hotter: he posted Siebert’s name in capital letters with three emojis to mimic his jubilation and announced that he would continue with it. He also complained that football was “more and more boring”.
Most recently, Siebert caused a stir in the Bundesliga game between Borussia Dortmund and TSG Hoffenheim. The fact that he refused BVB a penalty after a handball by Hoffenheim’s Ozan Kabak was later described as a wrong decision by Peter Sippel, Bundesliga sporting director at DFB.
Siebert apparently rated Neymar’s gesture as unsportsmanlike. That really enraged the 30-year-old Neymar. He also railed against the FIFA referee on Twitter. “Total lack of respect for the athlete,” wrote the striker. “Something like this shouldn’t happen. I get a yellow card for just not doing anything,” he wrote. He feels hurt. And the referee will not say that he made a mistake. “Complete disrespect,” said Neymar.
The 38-year-old Siebert did not comment on the yellow card. He is the only referee from the German Football Association (DFB) who is allowed to travel to the World Cup in November and December. A reunion with Neymar would be possible there.
