Neymar faces a fine of almost a million euros after major works at one of his Brazilian properties were halted on Thursday. The project was carried out “without environmental authorization” in the luxurious Aero Rural property, in Mangaratiba, said the town hall of the city, located about 130 km from Rio, in a press release.
Authorities, alerted by complaints posted on social media, discovered “various environmental offences”, including the diversion of a watercourse, the unauthorized extraction of water from a river and the extraction of water to supply an artificial lake. They also discovered unauthorized excavations and displacements of earth, stones and rocks, as well as the use of beach sand without an environmental permit, the statement said.
His father present on the spot
“The next step will be to assess the irregularities found and impose a fine which, according to estimates and taking into account the damage caused to the environment, will not be less than five million reais [environ 950.000 euros] “, said the town hall.
If the Brazilian striker’s press service has not yet reacted, the footballer’s father, Neymar da Silva Santos, was at the scene when the authorities arrived to carry out the “inspection operation”. In a video released by the town hall of Mangaratiba, the man can be seen questioning the orders of officials.
The Paris Saint-Germain striker (31) bought the property in 2016 which, according to local media, sits on 10,000 square meters of land and includes a helipad, spa, sauna, massage room, a gym and catering areas.