Neymar was left in tears after Santos’ 6-0 league defeat by Vasco da Gama which led to head coach Cleber Xavier being sacked.
Xavier had been in charge for only 15 games after being appointed early on in the 2025 season on April 29 but the club announced his departure on their social media after their loss to the league’s 16th-placed team.
The loss was the heaviest of Neymar’s career as former Liverpool midfielder Phillipe Coutinho scored twice to give Vasco their biggest league win in 17 years. Santos fans turned their backs to protest the head coach and result — leaving them hovering above the relegation zone — while many others had left the stadium by the time the sixth goal went in.
“I’m completely disappointed with our game,” Neymar said to media after the game, per Globo.
“The fans have the right to protest in all sorts of ways, obviously without physical violence. But cursing and insulting people today is perfectly acceptable. I feel incredibly ashamed; I’ve never experienced anything like this in my life.
