In Brazil, a scene sparked controversy and angered Neymar. After Brazil’s draw with Venezuela (1-1), Neymar received a bag of popcorn as he left the field, which incited the player’s anger.
The person who threw the popcorn has decided to explain his unusual action, emphasizing that it was more silly than harmful.
He said, « At the end of the match, I moved closer to the field, where the players were. I was eating popcorn, and when Neymar got near the tunnel, I called out to him. I shouted, but he didn’t even turn in my direction. I threw the bag, not to tell him he played badly, but to get his attention. »
Neymar then became angry and was held back by a few teammates but was clearly irritated by the situation. The person who threw the popcorn explained, « It might seem like I did it out of malice, but that’s not the case. I’m one of his fans, I love his football. I didn’t want to hurt him; I just wanted him to turn towards the stands. »