Horror tackle on Neymar sparks 19-man brawl as PSG and Marseille stars lose their heads

The Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille descended into a 19-man brawl in the centre of the pitch after Neymar was chopped down by a nasty challenge

Things got a little heated between PSG and Marseille on Sunday night

A huge 19-man brawl broke out during the Ligue 1 match between PSG and Marseille after Neymar was chopped down by a horror tackle.

Neymar had put the Ligue 1 champions ahead on the stroke of half-time with a precise finish in the bottom of the net. But he found himself on the end of a nasty challenge midway through the second half when Samuel Gigot attempted to win the ball.

Gigot caught the Brazilian forward after he had played the ball, sending him tumbling to the ground in a series of rolls and screams. Referee Clement Turpin had no hesitation in giving Gigot his marching orders, but that wasn’t enough to quell the anger of Neymar’s PSG team-mates, who quickly crowded around the 29-year-old defender.

Within seconds, as many as 19 players had gotten involved in the fracas, with PSG defender Marquinhos particularly involved in the pushing and shoving.

Neymar went down under a challenge from Samuel Gigot

Yet, as soon as the red mist had descended, it had lifted, as Turpin restored calm and encouraged Gigot to see himself off the pitch. Despite the protestations of both sets of players, fans on social media couldn’t agree over whether Gigot deserved a red card.

In a comment liked by over 400 people, one person said: “Didn’t touch him.” Another wrote: “Is this a red? I don’t think so at all do you?!” While a third person added: “No chance that’s a red!! Neymar is a soft!! The games gone soft!!”

19 players were involved in the fracas in total

Others, however, disagreed. One user wrote: “If Neymar didn’t jump in the air he would’ve picked up a bad injury.” While another commented: “What a bad foul on Neymar.”

Despite the challenge, Neymar bravely soldiered on until he was substituted with two minutes remaining. PSG maintained their 1-0 lead to move three points clear at the top of Ligue 1. Marseille drop to fourth.