jones wrote:
I think Layuns action was a lot worse. Neymars behaviour is unsporting (and at the same time necessitated by refs being unable to spot everything) but Layun was trying to injure him, there's a clear gap between the two.
Exaggerating contact might be ugly but why should you allow an opponent to remain on the pitch for trying some shit like that. Also Neymar has in the past reacted to stuff like that and gotten himself sent off for it so it's clear what Layuns angle here was. I think the reaction should never be punished as severely as the action leading to it
Don't get me wrong, by the letter of the law Layun should be off. The law also says that a dive/conning the referee is a yellow card so the punishment is proportional (although I would say that more dangerous tackles should carry longer bans but that's a separate issue). But these sort of theatrics makes it less likely that players who are out to injure Neymar will be punished. The same thing happened with C.Ronaldo in his early days since referees had notes and were less willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Moreover, Neymar has put a cross on his own back this tournament - sure he's been fouled a lot (although all fouls are not equal) but by diving against Costa Rica, in a challenge that was no threat to his physical health, most pundits already had him in their cross hairs. He's subsequently doubled down on it and, as the last superstar left in the tournament, people will talk about him in much more detail than anyone else - in a positive or negative way. As I say, I understand why Neymar did it but I have no sympathy for him nor do I particularly feel his case is unique enough to justify his unsporting behaviour.
