Football has produced countless unusual moments, but few have been as confusing as the substitution error that involved Neymar. The 1xBet Nepal platform also has many great bets on matches featuring Neymar too.
This story had 5 protagonists:
- Neymar;
- Gonzalo Escobar;
- Robinho Jr.;
- Santos coach Cuca;
- and the 4th official.
This happened during Santos’ Brazilian league match against Coritiba in May 2026. The incident quickly spread around the world because it was caused by an administrative mistake rather than anything that happened during play.
The confusion began in the 65th minute when Neymar temporarily left the field to receive treatment for discomfort in his calf. And now, using the Nepal 1xBet website will also offer the possibility to bet on Neymar too.
At the same time, Cuca decided to make a substitution. The player who was supposed to leave the pitch was Gonzalo Escobar, while Robinho Jr. was set to come on. However, the 4th official mistakenly displayed Neymar’s number 10 on the substitution board instead of Escobar’s number 31.
A procedure that could not be reversed
Because the substitution procedure had already been completed, the referee ruled that Neymar had officially been replaced. When the Brazilian star attempted to return to the field after receiving treatment, he was informed that he could no longer continue playing. The number 10 immediately protested, insisting that a mistake had been made. He even grabbed the 4th official substitution sheet and showed it to television cameras, pointing out that Escobar, not him, had been listed as the player to be substituted.
Despite the evidence, the officials did not reverse the decision. According to the Laws of the Game, once the substitute has entered the field and play has restarted, the substitution is considered complete. Neymar’s frustration boiled over, and he received a yellow card after arguing with the referee and attempting to re-enter the pitch.
Santos later released a statement confirming that the 4th official had made an error when displaying the substitution numbers. The club described the incident as an “inexplicable error” that television footage and the written substitution request clearly supported. Even so, the result of the substitution could not be changed under the rules.
During this match, Neymar was trying to prove his fitness and form just before Brazil’s World Cup squad announcement, making the unexpected substitution even more frustrating. Although Santos lost the match 3-0, much of the post-match discussion focused on the extraordinary officiating blunder rather than the result itself.
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