SportBook Service | Neymar should have been sent off against Real Madrid for diving as referee bottled decision, claims Michael Owen

NEYMAR should have been sent off for diving against Real Madrid, claims Michael Owen.

The former Los Blancos striker believes referee Gianluca Rocchi bottled the decision to show the 198million Paris Saint-Germain star a second yellow.

Neymar was deemed to have dived under pressure from Casemiro but escaped a second yellowCredit: REUTERS

Neymar, 26, was booked early on for a clumsy challenge on Nacho before the ref deemed him to have dived under pressure from Casemiro in the second half.

BT Sport pundit Owen, 38, said: "A couple of players were lucky to stay on the pitch.

"Neymar, a blatant dive, the referee spotted it and didnt have the courage to send him off.

"The referee spotted it, I thought it was an automatic yellow card but obviously not."

Neymar goes down under pressure from Casemiro in the second halfCredit: AFP

The ref ignored Neymar's penalty appeal but did not book himCredit: Getty - Contributor

Neymar received a yellow card early in the game for a foul on NachoCredit: REUTERS

Michael Owen has slammed referee Gianluca Rocchi for 'bottling' decision to send Neymar offCredit: PA:Press Association

Fellow pundit Paul Clement agreed, saying: "To the letter of the law, that's a second yellow."

Premier League players can be retrospectively banned for two matches following new rules introduced this season.

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But simulation remains a problem, with Everton's Oumar Niasse and West Ham's Manuel Lanzini both receiving suspensions.

When asked how footballing chiefs can solve the issue, Owen blasted: "Referees not bottling it, for starters."

Neymar will be available for Real Madrid's trip to PSG next month.

The Ligue 1 leaders face a mammoth task to overturn a 3-1 defeat against the reigning champions.

A Cristiano Ronaldo double and Marcelo strike saw Zinedine Zidane's men fight back after Adrien Rabiot's opener.

Neymar sings and dances at the PSG gym before doing an amazing trick in training