Barcelona drop bid to play Neymar in Clasico

Barcelona will not call up star forward Neymar for the potential title decider with Real Madrid, the Spanish champions said on Sunday, just hours before El Clasico.

“Given the legal uncertainty of the lack of a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAD) with the game tonight less than 12 hours away, and to focus all attention on the sporting aspect, the club has decided not to call up Neymar,” a Barcelona statement said.

Barcelona appealed to Spain’s TAD late on Friday over Neymar’s three-game suspension in the hope it would be frozen, which would have allowed him to take part in Sunday’s must-win showdown at Real.