Spanish giants Barcelona have finally confirmed that their Brazilian forward, Neymar will not be available for Sunday’s pivotal league game against Real Madrid.
Barcelona had earlier lodged an appeal against Neymar’s three-game ban to Spain’s Court of Arbitration for Sport [TAD] on Friday, hoping that until there’s a resolution, the ban should be suspended.
The court had hoped to call an extraordinary meeting to deal with the case on Saturday but failed to do so.
TAD however, released statement on Sunday saying the ban was immediately enforceable.
They added Barca would be sanctioned for playing an ineligible team if they picked the Brazilian at the Santiago Bernabeu.
In a statement on Sunday, Barcelona said, “Against the uncertainty due to the lack of reply from TAD with 12 hours to go until the game, and to focus all attention on sporting matters, the club have opted not to call up Neymar.
“However, Barcelona expresses its amazement at TAD’s refusal to exercise its jurisdictional functions, something which directly damages both the clubs and the competition itself.”
Neymar was sent off as Barca were beaten at Malaga on April 8 after picking up two yellow cards, earning himself a one-match ban.
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