Brazilian superstar Neymar Jr was embroiled in a heated moment post-game when a fan threw a bag of popcorn at him.
Watch: Neymar Jr loses it after being pelted with bag of popcorn
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The incident transpired on Thursday night, after the Brazilian team’s 1-1 draw against Venezuela at Arena Pantanal.
The draw, which left Neymar Jr and the fans somewhat disheartened given the high expectations for a win, was about to conclude uneventfully until a bag full of popcorn came hurling towards Neymar from the stands, hitting him squarely on the head.
Though the popcorn didn’t inflict any physical damage on the 31-year-old star, it certainly stirred a storm of emotions.
Neymar Jr was visibly irate and seemed intent on confronting the instigator of this disrespectful act.
However, before the situation could escalate, his teammates intervened, escorting him off the pitch and into the locker room, thereby averting any potential altercation.
Reacting to the incident, Brazil’s coach, Fernando Diniz, expressed his disapproval vociferously.
He emphasised that while vocal expressions of dissatisfaction, like booing or cursing, are part of the game, hurling objects at players crosses a line of respect and decency.
Such acts, according to Diniz, are counterproductive and disrespectful towards the athletes who are there to give their best performance.
Neymar Jr, who was evidently excited about the match as seen on his social media posts prior to the game, has chosen to remain silent on the matter thus far.
His focus, presumably, remains on the upcoming matches and ensuring his team’s successful progression through the qualifiers.