Neymar handed three-match UCL ban

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Neymar has been hit with a three-match European ban by Uefa for his explicit social media post about the penalty awarded to Manchester United in their Champions League victory over Paris St Germain last month.

A spot-kick scored by Marcus Rashford in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time secured a 3-1 away victory for United, who progressed on away goals to the quarter-finals at PSG’s expense.

The penalty was awarded by VAR after Diogo Dalot’s shot struck Presnel Kimpembe on the arm, but Neymar, who was injured and watched the match from the sidelines, was adamant the spot-kick should not have been given.

In a social media post, the 27-year-old, who missed both legs of the tie, wrote: ‘This is a disgrace, they put four people that know nothing about football in charge of looking at the replay for VAR.

‘There is no penalty. How can it be a handball when it hits his back! Go f**k yourselves!’

Uefa confirmed the outcome of the disciplinary case on Friday evening, and Neymar’s punishment means he will miss half of next season’s group stage.

The governing body said in a statement that it had ‘decided to suspend the Paris St Germain player Neymar Junior for three Uefa competition matches for which he would be otherwise eligible for insulting match officials’.

Elsewhere, Dynamo Kiev were fined 60,000 euros (£52,920) for crowd disturbances during the home Europa League tie against Chelsea on 14 March, which the Ukraine side lost 5-0.

The charges were for setting off fireworks, field invasions by supporters, use of a laser pointer, throwing of objects, blocked stairways and a kit infringement.

Schalke were fined 5,000 euros (£4,400) for ‘acts of damages done by its supporters’ during the Champions League last 16 tie at Manchester City on 12 March.

The German club were also ordered to contact Manchester City within 30 days ‘for the settlement of the damages caused by its supporters’.

Bayern Munich were fined 12,000 euros (£10,500) for blocked stairways in their last 16 home match against Liverpool on 13 March, while a kit infringement charge brought only a warning and disciplinary proceedings for displaying illicit banners were dropped.