‘He was being racist’: Neymar one of FIVE players sent off for punch in mass brawl

Neymar was one of FIVE players sent off after a brawl broke out during Marseille’s 1-0 win against Paris Saint-Germain.

The chaotic scenes came right near the end of the match during additional time as tensions boiled over between the heated rivals.

Neymar was sent off for a punch to the back of the head but claimed that he was reacting to racist abuse in a shocking end to the action.

Watch European Football with beIN SPORTS and ESPN on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

It came in the 99th after the referee went to the VAR and spotted Neymar punching Alvaro Gonzalez in the back of the head.

Neymar’s accusations of racism to the fourth official did not lead anywhere initially on the field, prompting him to lash out.

Florian Thauvin scored what was the sole goal of the game that was the difference between the two sides, securing victory over last year’s Champions League finalist.

It is the first time since the 1984-85 season that PSG lost their first two Ligue One matches.

Layvin Kurzawa and Leandro Paredes were given red cards along with Neymar for PSG while Marseille’s Jordan Amavi and Dario Benedetto were also given their marching orders.

Marseille boss Andre Villas-Boas did not confirm Neymar’s racism claim when questioned post-game but said: “racism is unacceptable in football.”

After fielding a depleted line-up at Lens on Thursday, PSG coach Thomas Tuchel was able to recall Neymar and Angel Di Maria for a match played in front of around 4,000 supporters in Paris.

However, Kylian Mbappe remained absent after testing positive for Covid-19 on France duty at the start of the week with Mauro Icardi and Marquinhos also still missing.

PSG handed a debut to Italy international Alessandro Florenzi following his arrival on a season-long loan from Roma while Sergio Rico started in goal after rejoining on a long-term deal.

Marseille ‘keeper Steve Mandanda produced a magnificent reflex to keep out an effort from Marco Verratti just a minute in as tempers bubbled over frequently in the capital.

Thauvin, who shone in Marseille’s opening 3-2 win at Brest before the international break, made the breakthrough when he turned in a Dimitri Payet free-kick from point-blank range.

Di Maria found the net for PSG just past the hour but had strayed clearly behind the last defender, and Marseille’s celebrations were cut short in similar fashion moments later when a Benedetto goal was ruled offside.

The Argentine rifled in a rebound after Rico parried from Thauvin, who was controversially adjudged to be in an offside position much to the frustration of Marseille.

PSG’s last goal came in the 3-0 win over RB Leipzig in the Champions League semi-final on August 18, and Neymar poked wide from a Pablo Sarabia cross before the contest turned ugly at the finish.