Neymar ban: PSG star’s Champions League suspension reduced to two matches after CAS ruling

Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar’s Champions League ban for insulting match officials has been reduced to two games.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport handed the Brazilian a boost after cutting his initial three-match suspension after directing abusive language towards a referee or assistant.

The ruling means Thomas Tuchel will have Neymar at his disposal at Club Brugge on October 22.

Neymar will still miss matches against Real Madrid on Wednesday and the away trip to Galatasaray in two weeks.

UEFA found the Neymar guilty of abuse after an outburst on social media after the French side's elimination by Manchester United in the last 16 in March.

Neymar was injured and did not play but then posted profane comments about video review officials after PSG conceded a stoppage-time penalty.

A CAS statement read: "CAS has rendered its final decision in the appeal filed by the French club Paris Saint-Germain and the player Neymar Da Silva Santos Jr. against the decision taken by the Uefa Appeals Body on 18 June 2019.

"The player was found to have insulted match officials through social media at the end of the Champions League match Paris St-Germain vs Manchester United on 6 March 2019 and sanctioned with a 3-match suspension from Uefa competition matches for which he would otherwise be eligible. Following an appeal filed on 18 July 2019 by both Paris Saint-Germain and the player, this CAS procedure was referred to a Sole Arbitrator, Prof. Ulrich Haas (Germany).

"A hearing was held at the CAS headquarters on 13 September 2019, during which the parties and their legal representatives were heard. In application of Art. 15 (1) lit. b of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations which provides for a minimum suspension of two matches in case of “abusive language” directed at a match official, the Sole Arbitrator partially upheld the appeal and reduced the suspension imposed by Uefa on Neymar Jr. to two (2) Uefa competition matches for which he would otherwise be eligible. The full award with reasons will be published by the CAS in a few weeks."