Neymar issues apology after conceding controversial penalty
SANTOS, Brazil – Neymar issued a public apology on Wednesday after conceding a second-half penalty in Santos’ 1-1 draw with Mirassol, a result that leaves the club just one point clear of the Serie A relegation zone with four matches remaining.
The 33-year-old forward, who returned to Santos in January on a short-term deal after leaving Al-Hilal, opened the scoring inside four minutes at Vila Belmiro before giving away a penalty on the hour mark. Referee review confirmed his challenge on Reinaldo was reckless, allowing the Mirassol full-back to equalize from the spot.
Santos believed they had earned a penalty of their own earlier in the match when Álvaro Barreal went down in the area, but the Argentina striker was ruled offside in the build-up. The hosts pushed for a winner but settled for a draw that does little to ease pressure in their bid to avoid a first-ever relegation.
Neymar, who has featured in Santos’ last four league fixtures after a year-long recovery from ACL surgery, acknowledged his mistake in a social-media post after the match. “We gave everything to try for victory and I think we deserved it,” he wrote. “Every point will be important. Sorry about the penalty… So many different criteria, I don’t even know what to say. The fight doesn’t stop.”
His return has provided a creative lift for a side struggling to find consistent form, and coach Fábio Carille has continued to deploy him in a central role—a position Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti has publicly endorsed, describing it as the best way to maximize Neymar’s playmaking and finishing qualities.
Santos sit 16th on 38 points, narrowly ahead of Vitória, and face a demanding run-in that will determine their top-flight status. Neymar, out of contract at the end of the year, has been linked with clubs in South America and MLS, including a potential reunion with former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez at Inter Miami.
For now, his focus remains on guiding Santos to safety in a campaign defined by tight margins and high stakes.