Ronald Koeman calls on referees to ‘protect’ superstars like Neymar, Messi and Ronaldo

Ronald Koeman calls on referees to ‘protect’ superstars like Neymar, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo because they ‘allow us to enjoy ourselves’… with PSG forward ruled out of Champions League clash against Barcelona due to injury

  • Neymar has been ruled out of PSG’s Champions League clash with Barcelona
  • The forward sustained an injury during PSG’s 1-0 French Cup win over Caen
  • Ronald Koeman says he is disappointed Neymar will miss their Round of 16 tie
  • He has called on referees to protect superstars like Neymar, Messi and Ronaldo  

Ronald Koeman is disappointed to hear that Neymar will miss Barcelona‘s Champions League clash with PSG due to injury. 

Neymar has been ruled out of PSG’s Round of 16 tie against Barcelona on Tuesday after he picked up an injury in the Ligue 1 side’s 1-0 French Cup win over Caen.

As a result, the Dutch manager has called for match officials to protect superstars like Neymar, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and prevent such injuries taking place.

Ronald Koeman is disappointed that Neymar will miss Barcelona’s Champions League clash

‘You have to protect this type of player,’ Koeman said when asked about Neymar in his pre-match press conference.

‘Players like Neymar, [Lionel] Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo…

‘Because they are the players who allow us to enjoy ourselves. Referees have to protect them, although there is contact in this sport.’

Having already had his star player hit once, PSG Manager Mauricio Pochettino was about to take matters into his own hands during the Caen game…before he was hit again. 

Neymar has been ruled out of PSG's Champions League clash with Barcelona due to injury

Neymar has been ruled out of PSG’s Champions League clash with Barcelona due to injury

Neymar picked up his injury in the Ligue 1 side's 1-0 French Cup win over Caen on Wednesday

Neymar picked up his injury in the Ligue 1 side’s 1-0 French Cup win over Caen on Wednesday 

As a result, Neymar left of his own accord in the 59th minute and was reportedly seen limping after the game.   

A series of scans on Thursday revealed that Neymar had suffered a groin injury and that he would most likely be ruled out for a month.

Such a time scale will see him not only miss Tuesday’s meeting with his former club Barcelona but also the return leg in Paris.

Neymar has suffered more than two dozen injuries during his stories career. The Brazil international has missed a quarter of PSG’s Champions League games and will have been ruled out of the last 16 for a third time. 

Neymar took to social media to express his concern over his treatment on the pitch. He wrote: ‘For a while, I will once again have to stop doing the thing I most love in life, which is playing football.

Koeman has called on referees to protect superstars like Neymar, Messi and Ronaldo

Koeman has called on referees to protect superstars like Neymar, Messi and Ronaldo

Koeman says it is important to protect them as they are players that make us enjoy football

Koeman says it is important to protect them as they are players that make us enjoy football

‘I dribble and I get hit constantly. It makes me very sad. It makes me very sad to have to listen to a player, a coach, a commentator or whoever the hell it is say ‘they have to kick him’, ‘he dives’, ‘cry-baby’ ‘spoilt kid’, etc.

‘It saddens me and I don’t know how much longer I can take it. I just want to be happy playing football. NOTHING ELSE.’

While his father previously expressed his concern in December, saying: ‘When will this stop? If we continue like this football will lose.’