Neymar’s two-week absence, injured, raises questions about him Al-Hilal future as Al-Ain of the United Arab Emirates part ways with coach Hernan Crespo after a heavy defeat in the Champions League. Meanwhile, Uefa opts against the penalty held by Qatar PSG after fans displayed a “Free Palestine” banner.emphasizing global solidarity as Israel’s offensive Gaza continues.

Neymar expected to miss two weeks with injury, fueling speculation over Al-Hilal’s future

Neymar is expected to miss two weeks with injury, increasing speculation over the Brazilian’s future with Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal.

Neymar made what was only his second appearance for the club after a 12-month injury lay-off, coming on as a 58th-minute substitute in Al-Hilal’s 3-0 win over Iran’s Esteghlal in the Liga AFC Elite Champions.

The former Barcelona star then pulled up after reaching for the ball with three minutes remaining and had to be substituted.

“Unfortunately, it’s not a simple injury and he seems to be suffering from muscle pain and it’s not a knee problem,” Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus told a news conference in Riyadh on Wednesday. “He’s expected to be out for two weeks.”

Neymar took to social media to update his fans.

“Hopefully nothing too much…” he wrote. “It’s normal that after a year (out) this happens, the doctors have already warned me, so I have to be careful and play more minutes.”

Saudi media have speculated that the absence could last up to three weeks and that Al-Hilal may not register Neymar, whose contract expires in June 2025, for the second half of the Saudi Pro League season.

Neymar has played just seven games for the 19-time Saudi champions since signing in August 2023 for a reported fee of $90 million.

He is currently not registered to play domestic league matches as the club has a full contingent of 10 foreign players, but is allowed to play in continental competitions.

United Arab Emirates club Al-Ain fired coach Hernan Crespo

Al-Ain sacked head coach Hernan Crespo on Wednesday, less than six months after the Argentine led the UAE club to the Asian Champions League title.

The decision came after a run of disappointing results that culminated in a 5-1 defeat to Cristiano Ronald’s Al-Nassr in the AFC Champions League Elite on Tuesday.

It means Crespo, the former Inter Milan and Chelsea striker, will not get the chance to lead Al-Ain at the 32-team FIFA Club World Cup, although he will help them qualify for the tournament in the United States next summer .

The highlight of Crespo’s 12-month tenure was May’s victory over Japan’s Yokohama F. Marinos in the two-legged Asian final, but the two-time continental champions have collected just one point from their first four matches at the tournament this season.

The club thanked Crespo in a statement but said “recent results have not met expectations”.

It did not immediately announce a replacement for the 49-year-old Crespo.

PSG avoid UEFA sanctions after fans display ‘Free Palestine’ banner.

Paris St Germain will not face disciplinary proceedings after their fans unfurled a “Free Palestine” banner before kick-off in Wednesday’s Champions League match at home to Atletico Madrid, European football’s governing body UEFA said.

The 50×20 meter banner was displayed in the Auteuil Kop in the Parc des Princes.

UEFA bans “provocative” or “insulting” political messages in stadiums, but said on Thursday that the banner would not lead to potential sanctions, although previous political messages at matches have resulted in penalties.

“There will be… no disciplinary action because the banner that was unfurled cannot in this case be considered provocative or insulting,” a UEFA spokesman said.

The banner featured what appeared to be a map of historic Palestine in the colors of the Palestinian keffiyeh and a person with a clenched fist held aloft wearing a beanie.

Underneath the banner, a message scrolled by PSG supporters read: “War on the field, but peace in the world.”

Later in the game, another message was revealed, which read: “Does one child’s life in Gaza mean less than another?”.

Israel’s brutal war on Gaza has killed at least 43,400 people – most of whom were women and children.

Last year, Scottish club Celtic were fined 17,500 euros ($18,870) after their supporters waved Palestinian flags at a Champions League match.