Brazilian forward Neymar has found himself at the heart of a
controversy, that began with the rumor that he is hosting a week-long party at his
villa near Rio de Jeneiro despite the coronavirus pandemic—a claim that his
lawyers have denied, AFP reported on Monday.

The rumor did rounds in several local newspapers, beginning
with a report by Acelmo Goes, a columnist for the O Globo newspaper, who wrote
that the Paris Saint Germain star is hosting a party since Saturday and it will last till New Year at his villa. The report alleged that the party is being attended by 500 guests.  

Neymar was also alleged to have equipped his house with soundproofing
to avoid disturbing the neighbors.

Another journalist, Leo Dias of Metropoles website, who is
known for his celebrity scoops, came up with even the names of the performers
roped in to highlight the week-long revelry. He wrote the party was studded
with performances by Ludmilla and Wesley Safadao.

The no-stranger-to-controversy player is recovering from his
ankle injury and hasn’t played a match since December 13.

Also read: Neymar ‘expected’ for Paris Saint-Germain return in January

A famous event company confirmed the reports of a party in
Costa Verde region, which is close to Neymar’s villa in Mangaratiba village,
saying the party is being attended by 150 guests.

 The party “will host
around 150 people… while respecting all the health rules determined by the
public bodies,” Agencia Fabrica, the vent management firm said in a statement,
as quoted by AFP.  

Meanwhile, Neymar’s lawyers denied a party had been planned
or that the Agencia Fabrica event was related to the football star.

“No! This is a Fabrica event. It is not related to
Neymar,” they told AFP.

Brazil is suffering through a terrible coronavirus pandemic,
and has recorded second –highest number of deaths to the infection at 191,000,
only behind the US.

Also read: Rio de Janeiro to block beach access on New Year’s Eve

On Monday, the authorities at Rio de Janeiro announced that
the city’s 31 km shoreline will be off-limits on the New Year eve—a move taken
to prevent further spread of the infection in the region which has so far seen higher per capita infection than the national average.