<p class="title">Brazil's Copa America preparations suffered a huge injury scare on Wednesday after striker Neymar limped off the field as the Selecao beat Qatar 2-0 in a friendly.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A distraught-looking Neymar was seen covering his face with his hands as he sat on the bench after hobbling from the field in the 20th minute at Brasilia's Mane Garrincha Stadium.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A large icepack had been strapped to the Paris Saint-Germain striker's lower right leg while two members of Brazil's support staff carried him from the pitch.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The injury comes just nine days away from Brazil's opening game in the 2019 Copa America, which the South American powerhouses are hosting.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Minutes after Richarlison had just opened the scoring in the 17th minute Neymar departed with pain in his right ankle.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Gabriel Jesus added a second goal in the 23rd, but all the attention was focused on the injury to Neymar, which the Brazilian Football Confederation described as a sprain.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Any serious injury to Neymar would be a massive blow to the host nation's hopes as they attempt to win South America's continental championship for the first time since 2007.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The injury was just the latest twist in the soap opera surrounding Neymar, who has dominated headlines in Brazil since Saturday after a woman accused him of raping her in a Paris hotel. Neymar has strongly denied the allegations.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Earlier on Wednesday, the head of Brazil's football federation insisted Neymar would play in the Copa America despite the allegations of rape, a day after a senior official said he was willing to "bet" the star striker would quit.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Despite police investigations into the alleged rape and the publication of intimate images on social media, Neymar has continued to train with his Brazilian team-mates for the Copa America, which kicks off June 14.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) president Rogerio Caboclo told reporters Wednesday that the world's most expensive player would take part in the tournament -- the second time in as many days he has made such an assurance.</p>.<p class="bodytext">His remarks came after CBF vice president Francisco Noveletto was quoted by Brazilian media Tuesday as saying he was willing to "bet" that Neymar would quit.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"He doesn't have the psychological condition to face the Copa America and journalists," Noveletto said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Caboclo responded by saying Noveletto did not speak "for the CBF," Globoesporte.com said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">- 'difficult moment' -</p>.<p class="bodytext">======================</p>.<p class="bodytext">Hours ahead of Brazil's friendly against Qatar in Brasilia Wednesday, far-right President Jair Bolsonaro offered his public backing for the embattled player.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"He's going through a difficult moment but I believe him," said Bolsonaro.</p>.<p class="bodytext">At a news conference Monday, national coach Tite was bombarded with questions about the affair and its effect on the squad.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Attempting to sidestep the issue, Tite said he would "not judge" Neymar, who he said was "indispensable" to the team, but not "irreplaceable" either.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The scandal caps a troubled season for the player, on and off the field. It has been marred by a recurring injury, two separate suspensions for insulting a referee and hitting a fan, and the loss of Brazil's captaincy. (AFP) APA APA</p>
<p class="title">Brazil's Copa America preparations suffered a huge injury scare on Wednesday after striker Neymar limped off the field as the Selecao beat Qatar 2-0 in a friendly.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A distraught-looking Neymar was seen covering his face with his hands as he sat on the bench after hobbling from the field in the 20th minute at Brasilia's Mane Garrincha Stadium.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A large icepack had been strapped to the Paris Saint-Germain striker's lower right leg while two members of Brazil's support staff carried him from the pitch.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The injury comes just nine days away from Brazil's opening game in the 2019 Copa America, which the South American powerhouses are hosting.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Minutes after Richarlison had just opened the scoring in the 17th minute Neymar departed with pain in his right ankle.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Gabriel Jesus added a second goal in the 23rd, but all the attention was focused on the injury to Neymar, which the Brazilian Football Confederation described as a sprain.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Any serious injury to Neymar would be a massive blow to the host nation's hopes as they attempt to win South America's continental championship for the first time since 2007.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The injury was just the latest twist in the soap opera surrounding Neymar, who has dominated headlines in Brazil since Saturday after a woman accused him of raping her in a Paris hotel. Neymar has strongly denied the allegations.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Earlier on Wednesday, the head of Brazil's football federation insisted Neymar would play in the Copa America despite the allegations of rape, a day after a senior official said he was willing to "bet" the star striker would quit.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Despite police investigations into the alleged rape and the publication of intimate images on social media, Neymar has continued to train with his Brazilian team-mates for the Copa America, which kicks off June 14.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) president Rogerio Caboclo told reporters Wednesday that the world's most expensive player would take part in the tournament -- the second time in as many days he has made such an assurance.</p>.<p class="bodytext">His remarks came after CBF vice president Francisco Noveletto was quoted by Brazilian media Tuesday as saying he was willing to "bet" that Neymar would quit.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"He doesn't have the psychological condition to face the Copa America and journalists," Noveletto said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Caboclo responded by saying Noveletto did not speak "for the CBF," Globoesporte.com said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">- 'difficult moment' -</p>.<p class="bodytext">======================</p>.<p class="bodytext">Hours ahead of Brazil's friendly against Qatar in Brasilia Wednesday, far-right President Jair Bolsonaro offered his public backing for the embattled player.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"He's going through a difficult moment but I believe him," said Bolsonaro.</p>.<p class="bodytext">At a news conference Monday, national coach Tite was bombarded with questions about the affair and its effect on the squad.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Attempting to sidestep the issue, Tite said he would "not judge" Neymar, who he said was "indispensable" to the team, but not "irreplaceable" either.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The scandal caps a troubled season for the player, on and off the field. It has been marred by a recurring injury, two separate suspensions for insulting a referee and hitting a fan, and the loss of Brazil's captaincy. (AFP) APA APA</p>