NEYMAR received a two-match ban Wednesday for his red card against Marseille as the French league announced it would open an investigation into accusations of racism by the Brazil forward against Alvaro Gonzalez.

It also included a one-match suspended ban in his punishment, which will come into force if he indulges in more foul play in his first game back once the sanction is completed.

The French league added that they would investigate claims Gonzalez racially abused Neymar. “We know there was an exchange of words. But right now, there isn’t enough certainty to call in the players,” said Sebastien Deneux, president of the disciplinary commission.

The controversy raged on. Marseille claimed Gonzalez has received death threats after his personal telephone number was published on social media. Marseille coach Andre Villas-Boas also attempted to defend Gonzalez, suggesting he didn’t believe Gonzalez was guilty of making racist remarks.

“I don’t think so, because Alvaro is an experienced player. There is no room for racism in football, but I don’t think that’s it,” he said. Marseille also released a statement, claiming “Alvaro Gonzalez is not racist, as he has shown through his daily behavior since joining the club, and as his teammates have already confirmed.”

While it still remains to be seen whether Gonzalez has crossed the line, French Football Federation President Noel Le Graet added fuel to the fire by insisting that racism doesn’t exist in soccer.

“When a black player scores a goal, the whole stadium is on its feet,” said Le Graet during an interview with France’s news channel BFM Business. “This phenomenon of racism in sport, and in football in particular, does not exist at all or barely exists.”

Le Graet’s remark stood in sharp contrast to what Sanjay Bhandari said earlier this year.

Bhandari, who heads Kick It Out, a U.K. organization that works to tackle discrimination in professional and grassroots soccer, told CNN in February that racism in the sport is “worse now than it was five years ago.”

“Football is very different to what it was in the 1970s, racism is not the endemic thing that it was in the 1970s,” he said. “Over a 40, 50 year period? We’ve definitely [made progress]. But it’s worse than it was five years ago, and it’s worse than it was seven years ago.”

According to the organization, reports of discrimination rose by 32 percent in 2018/19 compared to the previous season. Racism remains the most common form of discrimination and has risen alarmingly.(SD-Agencies)