Barcelona To Miss Star Forward Neymar In El-Classico
As Barcelona gear up their preparation towards Sunday's El-classico, one of the their forward, Neymar Junior will be missing in the action against a fierce rival, the Spanish champions said on Sunday, just hours before Elclassico.
The loss of the suspended Brazilian forward deals a big blow to Barcelona's hopes of denying their fierce rivals a first La Liga crown in five years.
Barcelona appealed to Spain’s Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAD) late on Friday over Neymar’s three- game ban in the hope it would be frozen, which would have allowed him to take part in the must-win showdown at the Santiago.
But with the pivotal clash looming — kick-off is at 1845 GMT on Sunday — Barcelona said they were abandoning their bid to have Neymar available.
"Given the legal uncertainty of the lack of a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport with the game tonight less than 12 hours away, and to focus all attention on the sporting aspect, the club has decided not to call up Neymar,” an angry Barcelona statement said.
The Catalans said the TAD had created “a huge legal void." Neymar is in the middle of a suspension for his red card and subsequent sarcastic applause of the officials in Barca's damaging 2-0 defeat to Malaga two weeks
ago.
The club argue that until a ruling on the appeal is held, Neymar's ban should be suspended and therefore allow him to feature at the Bernabeu.
“As a coach I am prepared to play with Neymar or without him,” manager Luis Enrique said on Saturday.
The loss of the suspended Brazilian forward deals a big blow to Barcelona's hopes of denying their fierce rivals a first La Liga crown in five years.
Barcelona appealed to Spain’s Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAD) late on Friday over Neymar’s three- game ban in the hope it would be frozen, which would have allowed him to take part in the must-win showdown at the Santiago.
But with the pivotal clash looming — kick-off is at 1845 GMT on Sunday — Barcelona said they were abandoning their bid to have Neymar available.
"Given the legal uncertainty of the lack of a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport with the game tonight less than 12 hours away, and to focus all attention on the sporting aspect, the club has decided not to call up Neymar,” an angry Barcelona statement said.
The Catalans said the TAD had created “a huge legal void." Neymar is in the middle of a suspension for his red card and subsequent sarcastic applause of the officials in Barca's damaging 2-0 defeat to Malaga two weeks
ago.
The club argue that until a ruling on the appeal is held, Neymar's ban should be suspended and therefore allow him to feature at the Bernabeu.
“As a coach I am prepared to play with Neymar or without him,” manager Luis Enrique said on Saturday.
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