Paris (AFP)

A lot of noise for nothing.

Accused of making racist and homophobic comments, PSG superstar Neymar avoided sanctions on Wednesday for lack of evidence.

Freed from suspicion, the Brazilian can finally start his season.

A huge controversy, videos, lip-reading expertise, exchanges by media interposed ... and at the end, "no tangible element".

In the midst of the media uproar, the two-week investigation by the League's Disciplinary Commission (LFP) found nothing convincing, neither against "Ney", nor against the Marseillais Alvaro Gonzalez, accused of having exchanged racist and homophobic insults during the stormy PSG-OM on September 13.

Thanks to the benefit of the doubt, the two players thus escape a suspension, which could have been very heavy, up to ten matches according to the scale of the Federation (FFF), for proven discriminatory remarks.

"Alvaro is not racist, any accusation made against him on this subject is unfair and unfounded," reacted OM, "satisfied" with this decision.

"Indignation and anger. A non-judgment of the blind, deaf and mute LFP. Black evening for the fight against homophobia and racism in football", was indignant for its part the collective "Direct Red", fighting against homophobia in football.

- 30% reliable lip reading -

But the disciplinary commission is formal: the file was empty.

"First observation, no report of officials, referee or delegate, contained elements relating to these words or insults of a discriminatory nature", explained its president Sébastien Deneux.

"The second is that the statements of the two players are contrary in almost all points. Nothing made it possible to establish in a clear and precise manner the nature of the remarks which were exchanged", he continued.

The lip reading expertise, requested by the instructor, even fueled the blur, while Brazilian and Spanish media, with the same technique, ensured that Alvaro had called Neymar a "monkey" and that "Ney" would have him responded with a homophobic insult.

"There was no correlation with what the players said. In addition, the expert made it clear that the technique itself was only 30% reliable, which leaves room for doubt, which must benefit players, "said the manager.

Neymar is also freed from suspicions of racism, for remarks he would have made to the Japanese Hiroki Sakai: "the work of the commission mainly focused on the exchanges between Neymar and Alvaro", said Sébastien Deneux.

This announcement closes the thick dossier of the "Clasico", whose disciplinary consequences had ended up eclipsing the feat achieved by Marseille, who had won its first success against PSG in nine years (1-0).

- Crucial year for Neymar -

A first round of sanctions intended for the actors of the beginning of a general fight which led to five expulsions, was issued on September 16, concerning Parisians Layvin Kurzawa (6 matches), Neymar (2 matches closed plus one suspended) and Leandro Paredes (same sanction) as well as Marseillais Jordan Amavi (3 matches) and Dario Benedetto (1 match).

Another targeted the star striker of PSG Angel di Maria (4 matches), caught by the television images, for a spit to Alvaro.

For Neymar, it's a relief.

"I am worried," said his coach Thomas Tuchel, already forced to deal with a workforce limited by injuries and suspensions.

The accusations of racism left the specter of a long absence and, more generally, many questions about his image, while he was involved in several extra-sporting slippages.

Wednesday, he was talked about for his huge debt to the Spanish tax authorities, which claims more than 34 million euros!

But he should be on the pitch Friday against Angers, and even thereafter, at the dawn of a crucial season for him, marked by negotiations on an extension of his contract expiring in 2022.

© 2020 AFP