Argentinian national team player Javier Mascherano was disappointed by the decision of the "Copa America" tournament organizers to remove Brazilian national team leader Neymar from the competition due to a red card and unprofessional behavior.
The defender stood up for his friend in the "Barcelona" team and claimed that he was provoked.
"Such things happen in South American football, maybe even more so in the "Copa America" tournament, where it's difficult for stars to play because they don't receive the usual protection from referees in Europe," Mascherano said.
"Neymar was fouled 20 times and he received a yellow card for touching the ball with his hand. Talented footballers are simply not allowed to play, and the losses in the tournament become more and more evident. Everything depends on the organization and the decisions of the referees," the Argentine said.
"We must protect the stars. It's no wonder that Neymar lost his temper after such treatment. After all, let's not forget that he is only a 23-year-old boy. Brazil lost a lot," he added.
The forward not only received a 4-match suspension, but also a fine of 10,000 US dollars.
