Citing a report by UOL, Yahoo Sports said that FIFA has launched an investigation involving Neymar's partially-exposed underwear during a match between Brazil and Cameroon, of which the Brazilians eventually won at 4-1.
The sports blog said that this is not the first time Neymar has been investigated for his exposed underwear during a televised tournament. It was recalled that the Brazilian football player was investigated when his underwear from a Champions League non-sponsor had peeked out from his shorts when he played for Barcelona just two months ago.
According to a Folha source close to the Neymar family, the marketing idea of using a sponsor underwear came from Neymar's own staff, who then suggested it to Neymar's father. The Brazilian player's press agent has since denied that it was an intentional marketing strategy.
Ahead of the World Cup, the Brazilian Football Confederation or CBF has prepared workshops for its national team to attend to avoid commercial complications during the tournament. A probe by the sports blog revealed that one of the workshops involved educating the national athletes how to conduct themselves in the event that, for example, they wish to celebrate scored goals.
FIFA, who is touted by financial pundits as a sponsor-reliant nonprofit entity with a rainy day fund of $1.4 billion in cash, has policies in place for players who wish to capitalize their screen time in matches by subtly showing off symbols, images or anything that links to their personal or club sponsors. Article 22 of the World Cup regulation specifically bans bans political, religious, personal or advertising messages on uniforms. FIFA also recently introduced a new resolution that would also stop players from having messages of some sort on their bodies.
On the other hand, FIFA might also consider imposing a ban on the tournament non-sponsors themselves should they wish to curb this kind of occurrence in the World Cup.
Neymar's camp has yet to address the allegations.
