Neymar insists he didn't attack referee: 'Nothing happened in the tunnel'
Neymar continues to proclaim his innocence.
A brawl ensued following the final whistle of Brazil's ill-tempered defeat to Colombia, in which the Brazilian phenom attempted to headbutt Jeison Murillo and was subsequently assigned a four-match ban that ruled him out of the remainder of the Copa America.
Brazil dropped its appeal of the suspension, and Neymar left the squad on Monday morning.
Conflicting reports have emerged about what exactly transpired in the tunnel once Neymar exited the pitch.
One story from Spanish daily AS claimed Neymar grabbed referee Enrique Osses by the neck during a tirade, an account that differs significantly from the explanation the poster boy gave in conversation with Jornal Nacional.
"It was a family decision to leave," Neymar said," according to beIN Sports. "I talked to my father, and then I told Dunga and team manager Gilmar Rinaldi. They agreed.
"Nothing happened in the tunnel, basically. I was inside it, and waiting to ask the ref why he dismissed me. Then a huddle took place and security guards came in, thinking I was nervous, that I wanted to attack him."
Despite no longer being with Brazil's squad, Neymar is confident his compatriots are capable of winning the country's ninth Copa America title, saying: "I think there's a lot of life in Selecao without Neymar. The players have shown that they can win games and win Copa America.
"Brazil has plenty of great players. I'm absolutely confident of this team and the players that are there representing it. They are all big names who'll take care of business."
His comments echoed the Portuguese words he wrote on Instagram on Monday: