FC Barcelona defender Dani Alves slammed the referee for sending off Neymar in Brazil's Copa America loss to Colombia.
Read: Colombia Sink Brazil As Neymar Sees Red
The Brazil full-back believes that the match official was wrong to send Neymar off after the final whistle had blown, suggesting that the referee tried to steal the show, rather than control proceedings.
"I don't know why Neymar was nervous," he told TV Globo.
"The blame is on the referees. They know he has personality.
"The yellow card he received was wrong.
"They have to stop thinking that they are the protagonists. They are there to referee the game."
Despite his frustrations with the outcome of the Colombia match, Alves remains hopeful that Brazil can rally together as a team, and come out stronger.
"This happens in every game against Brazil," he added.
"You have to be strong and calm to overcome difficult moments.
"Now they are all against Brazil. We need to be calm."
Alves, who has been capped 77 times for Brazil, recently signed a new deal at Barcelona, where he features alongside his countryman, Neymar.
Read: Messi Can Still Outscore Ronaldo
Due to his sending off, Neymar will now miss his nation's last group match against Venezuela on Sunday night.
Taking the 2014 World Cup into consideration, and how Brazil were thrashed 7-1 by Germany without Neymar, do you think they can win their next game without him? Let us know in the comments section below.
