Brazil in Last-Ditch Bid to Reduce Neymar Ban

Nemay argues with the referee during Brazil's match vs Colombia in the Copa America.

© AFP

Rio de Janeiro: Brazil's football confederation has lodged an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in a bid to reduce the international suspension of Selecao captain Neymar, the media reported on Saturday.

The Barcelona forward has served two matches of a four-game ban handed to him after his sending off in Brazil's 1-0 Copa America loss to Colombia in June, Xinhua news agency reported.

The penalty applies only to competitive matches, meaning Neymar is free to play in the Selecao's friendlies against Costa Rica in New Jersey on Saturday and the USA in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Tuesday.

But the 23-year-old will miss Brazil's opening 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Venezuela next month.

According to the Uol news portal, Brazil's application to the CAS follows two failed appeals to world football's governing body FIFA.

The Swiss-based body is considered Brazil's last chance to reduce the sentence.