PSG and Brazil star Neymar has responded to criticisms over his play-acting. The forward has been on the receiving end of severe criticism after his antics at the World Cup. The most notable one of them was his fall against Serbia. After a very regular challenge from Adem Ljajic brought him down, Neymar rolled some 5 -6 times. This later became the subject of social media trolls. A study said that Neymar spent 14 minutes on the floor during the World Cup.
Neymar himself said that he exaggerates his falls sometimes. However, in Brazil’s friendly against El Salvador, the PSG star was back to his old tricks. He got a booking for simulating a fall in the penalty area. Brazil eventually won the match 5-0 with Neymar opening the scoring through a penalty in the fourth minute.
Neymar said about the simulation criticism, “I do not know what I have to do to live with it [this reputation], there’s no way I’m going to stand for a situation like this. I think it has to end. But it’s not up to me, so much that I did not say anything, I went on with my football. It’s a lack of respect, not just with me, but with my team-mates as well. Playing with a yellow card is tricky. The guy comes here to officiate a Brazilian national team match, which is a very big selection, and he does that … I don’t think it is correct. If he does not want to give the penalty, it’s not a problem, but the card is unnecessary.”
Neymar has started this season well for PSG, scoring 4 goals in as many Ligue 1 matches. PSG play their next Ligue 1 match against Saint-Etienne on Friday. Three days later, the French giants begin their Champions League campaign against Liverpool.
