Neymar’s ‘world class dive’ to win pen in friendly has fans laughing at PSG star

Football fans have hit out at PSG star Neymar following a "world-class dive" in a meaningless pre-season friendly.

Neymar, 30, fell to the floor in laughable fashion during the Ligue 1 giants' 6-2 romping of Japanese outfit Gamba Osaka, fooling referee Ben Whitehouse into awarding a spot-kick. Taking the ball into the penalty area, the Brazil international neatly chopped the ball back onto his right foot before noticing Gamba Osaka defender Genta Miura coming in for a sliding challenge.

Despite missing the ball, Miura managed to completely avoid touching Neymar but that still didn't stop the perpetual diver from once again throwing himself up in the air. And fans have quite rightly gone ballistic on social media.

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"Neymar is a member of a theatrical troupe?! Here is that laughable dive by the pathetic Neymar. It’s a friendly, in front of fans paying a lot to see football – not this disgraceful stuff," tweeted one disgruntled supporter.

"Normally stick up for Neymar not any more. Give players that dive a fine and a few games ban. Even if it's just pre-season," commented a second. "World Class dive from Neymar Jr," jibbed a third.

"With VAR that could be a red card for a dive. I'll never understand why Neymar underestimates himself by doing these cheap tricks. He's better than this," harked a fourth.

HAVE YOUR SAY! Should the football authorities introduce retrospective bans for diving? Let us know in the comments section.

Cooly dispatching the penalty and registering another on the hour-mark, Neymar has rebuffed talk of an impending exit from the French capital, vowing his future remains with PSG.

He told French news agency AFP: "I want to stay at Paris Saint Germain. No one from the club told me anything about the plans for my future, as things stand.

"I don’t know what kind of plans they have for me – I want to stay," he added.

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