Neymar Becomes First Player Forced Off for 1 Minute Under New Time-Wasting Rule

Brazilian football star Neymar (34, Santos) has become the first player to be forced off the pitch for one minute under a pilot rule introduced in his domestic league to prevent goalkeepers from wasting time.

Brazil's Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (first division) is currently trialing a regulation aimed at stopping goalkeepers from intentionally delaying the game under the guise of receiving medical treatment.

This rule is also scheduled to be introduced in leagues such as the English Premier League (EPL) for the 2026-2027 season. When play is stopped for a goalkeeper's treatment, the team's manager must designate one of the outfield players to leave the pitch for one minute upon the restart. If the manager fails to name a player within 10 seconds, the team's captain must leave the field for one minute.

During a match where Santos defeated Vasco da Gama 3-0, this rule was applied for the first time in the Brazilian top flight.

The new rule was triggered when Santos goalkeeper Gabriel Brazão requested medical treatment. As Santos manager Cuka failed to select another player within the 10-second limit, the referee instructed team captain Neymar to leave the field.

Neymar, who announced his retirement from the national team following Brazil's elimination in the Round of 16 at the 2026 North and Central America World Cup and is now fully focused on his club, played the full match that day.

(Photo: Getty Images)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.