No Neymar complaint over racism claim

Brazil striker Neymar says he has already forgotten about the alleged racism during the friendly victory over Scotland – after choosing not to lodge an official complaint.

The 19-year-old Santos player scored both Brazil goals at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, but a banana was thrown onto the pitch as he celebrated scoring his second from the penalty spot and the player accused some spectators of racist behaviour.

Scotland fans and the Scottish Football Association have strongly refuted those claims and it is unclear whether the banana was thrown by a supporter of either side or by a neutral.

When asked if he would make an official complaint, Neymar told Sky Sports News: “No. That’s in the past. I go back to Brazil now and have already forgotten about it.

“If it was (a) Scottish (fan) or if it wasn’t, we cannot prove it. It was one isolated case. Life goes on.

“I hope whoever did it, will think about it, and not do it again.

“It shouldn’t happen anywhere. It doesn’t take away my happiness of the performance.”

Neymar, who has been linked with a move to Chelsea, was jeered by some spectators after receiving treatment in the first half following a Scott Brown challenge.

But he shrugged that off, saying: “I did my job, I went and played.

“Supporters come to the stadium either to support you or go against you.

“The two times that I fell down, I got two knocks – one on my knee and one in my face. I did my job and have nothing to say after that.”

An SFA spokesperson said: “There has been no such incident (the banana throwing) reported to the police or the stadium safety officer.

“In fact, the tens of thousands of Scotland supporters who travelled to the Emirates were commended for their behaviour.

“The Scotland supporters are known the world over for their impeccable behaviour and we have no reason to believe that, after speaking to the relevant authorities, they have been anything other than exemplary.

“The Scotland fans helped create a wonderful spectacle inside the Emirates and throughout London and should be applauded for their support.”

Tartan Army spokesman Hamish Husband also strongly denied that the catcalls when Neymar went down injured were racially motivated.

He said: “The reason Neymar was booed was because we believed he was feigning injury.

“Racism has no place in the Tartan Army and if it did, it would be stamped out immediately because we are self-policing.

“Any suggestion of racism from the Tartan Army, as far as I am concerned, is absolute tosh.

“We accept that Brazil played us off the park, and we applauded them for that.”