NEYMAR has been replaced as Brazil captain for next month’s Copa America by his Paris Saint-Germain teammate Dani Alves, the country’s football federation (CBF) has said.

The 27-year-old was made permanent captain eight months ago after leading the Selecao to the quarterfinals at last year’s World Cup, but was informed by manager Tite on Saturday that Alves would take over.

Defender Alves, 36, who has 138 caps, has captained Brazil four times, the most recent occasion being a 1-0 win over Germany in March 2018.

Neymar has had disciplinary issues this season. He was banned for three matches by French football authorities earlier this month after a video posted by a spectator at the Coupe de France final appeared to show him striking a fan after a brief confrontation. PSG had said it would appeal the ban.

The striker was also recently banned from European competitions by UEFA for an Instagram post criticizing match officials in charge of the French club’s Champions League defeat to Manchester United in March.

Neymar, who hit at the referee for awarding a last-minute penalty to United using the Video Assistant Referee system, will serve a three-match suspension next season as punishment.

Brazil is aiming to win the Copa America, which takes place in Brazil from June 14 to July 7, for the first time in 12 years.

(SD-Agencies)