Overview
- Santos beat Vasco da Gama 3-0 on Monday to reach 25 points from 23 matches and move temporarily out of the league relegation zone.
- Neymar played the full match and directly created two goals with a cross that led to Willian Arão’s strike and a free-kick rebound that Luan Peres finished.
- Under the new trial rule, the coach must name an outfield player to leave the pitch for one minute after a goalkeeper receives treatment and must do so within 10 seconds or the captain is sent off automatically.
- Referees invoked the rule when goalkeeper Gabriel Brazão received treatment and the coach did not nominate a replacement, making Neymar the first prominent player ordered off for one minute before returning to the match.
- The enforcement comes while Santos juggle Copa competitions and ongoing tensions around Neymar, including recent bookings, a club inquiry and disputes that form the backdrop to both his performances and disciplinary scrutiny.