Brazilian football witnessed a significant event on Sunday: the return of Samba icon Neymar da Silva to official action with his boyhood club Santos, following a lengthy absence of several weeks due to delicate surgery on his left knee. This return is expected to boost morale within the team and among the player's fans worldwide, especially with major international competitions approaching.

Details of the return and participation in the Paulista Championship

The 34-year-old veteran striker came on as a substitute at the start of the second half in his team's match against Velo Club in the Paulista regional championship. Neymar entered the field with Santos already leading 3-0, and his commanding presence and skillful touches contributed to doubling the scoreline, as the match ended in a resounding 6-0 victory for Santos. Despite being sidelined since December, Neymar showcased his renowned talent, reminding fans of his gradual recovery and return to match fitness.

A renewed journey with Santos after the Al-Hilal trip

This season has not been easy for the Brazilian star, as he has suffered a series of recurring injuries since returning to Santos after leaving Saudi club Al-Hilal last year. Despite these physical challenges, Neymar played a pivotal and leading role in ensuring the prestigious club's survival in the top division, reflecting his significant moral and technical influence within the dressing room. As a culmination of this historic relationship, the two parties recently reached an agreement to extend his contract with the club until the end of 2026, providing him with technical stability in preparation for the next stage of his career.

The national team's challenge and Ancelotti's complex

On the international stage, Brazil's all-time leading scorer (79 goals, two more than the legendary Pelé) faces a significant challenge in returning to the Seleção. Neymar hasn't played an international match in over two years, specifically since his serious knee injury against Uruguay on October 17, 2023. Adding to the difficulty is the fact that the national team's new coach, the experienced Italian Carlo Ancelotti , who took over last June, has yet to call him up, presenting Neymar with a real test to prove his readiness to the multiple Champions League-winning coach.

Brazil's roadmap to the World Cup

Brazilian fans eagerly await the upcoming squad announcement as the five-time World Cup champions prepare for the next tournament. The Seleção will kick off their campaign on June 13th with a tough match against Morocco, followed by a game against Haiti on June 19th, and will conclude the group stage against Scotland on June 24th. Prior to this official competition, the team will play high-profile friendlies in the United States next March against France and Croatia, matches that could prove crucial in determining Neymar's return to the international squad.

The African sports scene witnessed widespread controversy following the unfortunate events that accompanied the match between the Egyptian Al-Ahly Club and its Moroccan counterpart, the Royal Army Club, as the match went beyond its competitive sporting framework due to the actions of some of those affiliated with the fans, which prompted an official move and an escalation of the situation with the African Football Confederation (CAF).

Details of the riots during the match

Match reports documented a number of Al Ahly fans throwing a barrage of water bottles onto the pitch and around the field. This didn't stop there; some players from the Royal Army team were directly targeted with bottles, a scene that sparked outrage among observers and was considered a blatant violation of the spirit of sportsmanship that should prevail in such major continental events.

A strongly worded statement from the Royal Army

For its part, the management of the Royal Army Club did not remain silent in the face of these transgressions. The management issued a statement expressing its strong condemnation and denunciation of these unsportsmanlike actions by some fans of the opposing team. The Moroccan club emphasized in its statement that what occurred constituted a direct and real threat to the safety of the players and technical staff present on the bench and on the field, stressing that these actions are completely contrary to the principles of sportsmanship and the values ​​of football.

Official action and a demand for the application of regulations

In an escalation of its efforts to safeguard the club's rights, the Royal Army Club's management confirmed that it immediately initiated the necessary official procedures. An urgent and detailed letter, supported by evidence, was sent to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), demanding the application of the sanctions stipulated in the Confederation's disciplinary code. Through this complaint, the club aims to uphold sporting values ​​and ensure the safety of all involved in the game in the future, guaranteeing that such incidents are not repeated.

CAF regulations and expected penalties

Given the legal framework of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the regulations of its Disciplinary Committee are strict regarding player safety and crowd trouble. Penalties in such cases typically range from hefty fines for the home club to banning fans from attending several matches (playing behind closed doors), or even moving matches to neutral venues in cases of repeated serious offenses that threaten the safety of opposing teams.

Impact of events on football relationships

Matches between Egyptian and Moroccan clubs are always characterized by intense rivalry and excitement, and serve as a showcase for Arab football in Africa. Therefore, such isolated incidents can negatively impact the overall image of these North African derbies. The Royal Army Club's actions are aimed at restoring order and protecting players, which places a responsibility on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to enforce the law firmly to ensure that stadiums remain spaces for fair competition, free from any security threats.

In a thrilling encounter in the 25th round of the Italian Serie A, defending champions Napoli snatched a valuable late draw against their closest rivals, Roma, with a final score of 2-2. This draw salvaged some pride for the southern Italian side amidst their current struggles, thanks in large part to a late goal from new Brazilian signing Alisson Santos just eight minutes before the final whistle.

This match, historically known as the "Derby del Sole" (Derby of the Sun), holds special significance beyond just the three points; it represents a traditional struggle for supremacy in central and southern Italy. Both teams entered the game under immense pressure: Napoli sought to appease their fans after a shocking penalty shootout defeat to Coppa Italia quarter-finalists Coppa Italia, while Roma aimed to close the gap and forcefully break into the top four.

With this result, Napoli raised its tally to 50 points, maintaining third place, three points ahead of Roma, which reached 47 points. Despite Roma missing the opportunity to draw level on points with Napoli, the "Wolves" benefited from Juventus' stumble and its loss in the crazy "Derby d'Italia" against league leaders Inter by a score of 3-4, allowing Roma to climb to fourth place, just one point behind the Old Lady, thus intensifying the battle for Champions League qualification spots in the upcoming rounds.

Technically, the match began with both sides applying pressure. Dutchman Donyell Malen, on loan from Aston Villa, surprised the home side with an early goal for Roma in the seventh minute following a counter-attack led by Spaniard Bryan Zaragoza. However, Napoli showed their mettle before halftime, with Leonardo Spinazzola equalizing in the 40th minute with a powerful shot that deflected off a defender and into the net. In the second half, Roma regained the lead through a penalty successfully converted by Malen in the 70th minute, before substitute Alisson Santos intervened, firing a low shot in the 82nd minute to secure a point for Antonio Conte's team.

Elsewhere in the same round, Bologna kept their European hopes alive with a crucial 2-1 away win against Torino. The match was marred by widespread protests from Torino fans against the club's management, leaving the stands nearly empty. Santiago Castro and an own goal by Vlasic secured the victory for Bologna, lifting them to 33 points and eighth place in the standings.

In other matches, Sassuolo secured a valuable 2-1 victory over Udinese thanks to goals from Armand Llorente and Andrea Pinamonti, strengthening their mid-table position with 32 points. The round also saw a dramatic 2-1 win for Parma against Hellas Verona, with Matteo Pellegrino scoring a last-gasp winner after Verona were down to ten men. Meanwhile, Genoa and Cremonese played out a goalless draw.