Brazil's Troubled Neymar Out Of Copa America After Injury

Rio de Janeiro, June 6 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th Jun, 2019 ) :Brazi star Neymar has been ruled out of the Copa America after tearing ankle ligaments during his country's 2-0 win over Qatar in a pre-tournament friendly, capping a troubled season for the world's most expensive player.

The injury to the Paris Saint-Germain player is a huge blow to host nation Brazil's preparations for the South American continental championship, which begins in just over a week's time.

A distraught-looking Neymar covered his face with his hands as he sat on the bench after hobbling from the field in the 20th minute at Brasilia's Mane Garrincha Stadium on Wednesday.

A large ice pack had been strapped to his lower right leg.

"Due to the seriousness of the injury, Neymar will neither be fit nor have time to recuperate sufficiently to participate" in the tournament, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said.

The injury comes just nine days before Brazil's opening Copa America game against Bolivia.

It caps a troubled season on and off the field for Neymar, who in the buildup to the match faced accusations that he raped a woman in a Paris hotel in May.

Neymar, 27, strongly denies the claims and has published intimate images of his encounter with the woman, Najila Trindade Mendes de Souza, on social media in his defence. Despite the furore he had continued to train with his Brazilian team-mates for the Copa America.

Before the injury, CBF president Rogerio Caboclo had insisted Wednesday for the second time this week that Neymar would play in the tournament despite the rape accusations.

Caboclo's assurances came after CBF vice president Francisco Noveletto was quoted by Brazilian media as saying he was willing to "bet" that Neymar would quit.