Neymar Faces Fine and Controversy Over Unauthorized Lake and Beach Construction

 Neymar Faces Fine and Controversy Over Unauthorized Lake and Beach Construction

Aerial view of the luxury beachside mansion of Brazilian footballer Neymar in Mangaratiba, near Rio de Janeiro, taken on December 30, 2020. - Rumours of a giant year-end party organized by Neymar at his mansion in Mangaratiba in the midst of the pandemic have revived his image as an eternal spoiled child. The Paris Saint-Germain striker's entourage vigorously denies reports in Brazilian media, but the silence of the player, normally active on social media, speaks for itself

Neymar and controversy seem to go hand in hand. A few days ago, he made headlines by breaking his girlfriend's trust. This news sparked a heated debate. The Brazilian forward has been fined $330,000 by the environmental protection law. The news was reported by AFP.

What crime did Neymar commit? He has been accused of building an artificial lake and beach near his house without permission from the municipal council, the Ministry of Environment, and the local authorities. This has caused disruption to the natural flow of clean water.

Mangaratiba is the second-largest city in Brazil, located 130 kilometers south of Rio de Janeiro. The city is known for tourism. In 2016, Neymar bought a huge 10,000-square-meter house there, which included a helipad, spa, and gymnasium. Yesterday, the local administration visited the site and found the artificial lake and beach, which were constructed without following regulations.

According to a statement from the Mangaratiba municipal council, "Neymar has violated the law by tampering with the river's water, altering its course. In addition, the construction of the artificial lake and beach has caused further damage to the environment by clearing land and cutting down trees." Prior to this, the local authorities had also received complaints about diverting the river's water, extracting stones, and sand from the beach.

The local authorities have issued orders to cease all activities and measures around the artificial lake and beach, including Neymar's party organization and bathing in the lake, without obtaining proper permits. The matter will be further investigated by the Mangaratiba municipal council, environmental control agency, local attorney general's office, state police, and environmental security office. Neymar has 20 days to appeal against the penalties. However, Neymar has not made any comments when contacted by the news agency AFP.

The 31-year-old Neymar has been out of the field since February. He suffered a ligament injury in his right ankle during a match against Lille in Ligue 1. The severity of the injury kept him sidelined for the rest of the season. After allegations of tax evasion in March, he is now facing pressure to leave PSG, despite having a contract until 2025.