Neymar’s Champions League ban for insulting match officials has been reduced to two games.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has cut the PSG striker's initial three-match suspension after he was found guilty of directing abusive language towards a referee or assistant.
The Brazilian vented his frustration on social media after the French champions were knocked out of the Champions League by Manchester United in March.
Neymar didn't play due to injury but posted insulting comments about VAR officials after PSG conceded a stoppage-time penalty.
The ruling means Neymar will be back to face Club Brugge on October 22 but he will still miss the Group A matches against Real Madrid this Wednesday and the trip to Galatasaray in two weeks.
A CAS statement read: "CAS has rendered its final decision in the appeal filed by the French club Paris Saint-Germain and the player Neymar Da Silva Santos Jr. against the decision taken by the Uefa Appeals Body on 18 June 2019.
"The player was found to have insulted match officials through social media at the end of the Champions League match Paris St-Germain vs Manchester United on 6 March 2019 and sanctioned with a 3-match suspension from Uefa competition matches for which he would otherwise be eligible. Following an appeal filed on 18 July 2019 by both Paris Saint-Germain and the player, this CAS procedure was referred to a Sole Arbitrator, Prof. Ulrich Haas (Germany).
"A hearing was held at the CAS headquarters on 13 September 2019, during which the parties and their legal representatives were heard. In application of Art. 15 (1) lit. b of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations which provides for a minimum suspension of two matches in case of “abusive language” directed at a match official, the Sole Arbitrator partially upheld the appeal and reduced the suspension imposed by Uefa on Neymar Jr. to two (2) Uefa competition matches for which he would otherwise be eligible. The full award with reasons will be published by the CAS in a few weeks."
