Neymar is once again at the centre of a major controversy in Brazilian football after his actions following Santos’ 1-0 victory over Clube do Remo in the Copa do Brasil Round of 16 second leg.

While the former Brazil international played a decisive role in sending Santos into the quarter-finals, the post-match scenes have overshadowed the result and sparked a war of words between the two clubs.

Neymar made the difference after coming off the bench

With the first leg ending in a 0-0 draw, the return fixture at the Mangueirão Stadium in Belém was effectively a winner-takes-all contest.

Neymar started on the bench before being introduced at half-time. His impact was immediate as he set up Rony’s second-half winner, helping Santos secure a 1-0 victory and a place in the Copa do Brasil quarter-finals.

Why did the controversy begin?

The tension did not end with the final whistle. According to reports from Brazil, Neymar celebrated Santos’ qualification by repeatedly shouting “Eliminado!” (“Eliminated!”) towards Remo players, directors and staff in the tunnel leading to the dressing rooms. He was also seen dancing, sticking out his tongue and gesturing towards members of the home club.

The celebrations triggered a heated verbal confrontation, with officials and players from both sides exchanging insults before security intervened to prevent the situation from escalating further.

Remo president launches scathing attack

The strongest response came from Remo president Antônio Carlos Teixeira, popularly known as Tonhão.

The club chief accused Neymar of disrespecting Remo despite Santos progressing to the next round. He labelled the forward a “vagabundo” (vagabond) and criticised the example being set by one of Brazil’s biggest football stars, arguing that Santos had no need to celebrate in such a provocative manner after eliminating the hosts.

Neymar hits back

Neymar later responded through social media with a sarcastic message thanking Belém “for the affection.”

He also questioned why people become upset when he celebrates after receiving abuse from opposition supporters, suggesting his actions were a reaction to the hostile atmosphere throughout the evening rather than an attempt to provoke Remo without reason.

The latest flashpoint did not emerge in isolation. Earlier this season, Santos and Remo had already clashed in the Brasileirão, where Neymar was involved in a heated exchange with Remo midfielder Diego Hernández. The Santos star also criticised the officiating after that encounter, adding further tension to the relationship between the two sides.