Neymar hit with $3m penalty for digging up lake inside his lavish mansion

Brazilian authorities stated Monday that football star Neymar has been fined by a prosecutor of 16 million reais ($3.3 million) for constructing a lake at his mansion on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, violating the environmental regulations.

Council secretariat said in a statement: “The town council in Mangaratiba issued four fines for environmental violations in the construction of an artificial lake at the player’s mansion.”

The statement also added that “the sanctions add up to more than 16 million reais,” a sum set out by the prosecutor’s office in Mangaratiba, a tourist area around 130 kilometres (80 miles) from Rio where the 31-year-old football forward has his mansion.

Among dozens of infractions detected, the authorities listed “carrying out work subject to environmental control without authorisation,” capture and diversion of river water without authorisation, and “removal of land and suppression of vegetation without authorisation.”

Neymar has 20 days to appeal the penalty, the amount of which had initially been set at five million reais, close to one million dollars.

Aerial view of the luxury beachside mansion of Brazilian footballer Neymar in Mangaratiba, near Rio de Janeiro. — AFP/File
Aerial view of the luxury beachside mansion of Brazilian footballer Neymar in Mangaratiba, near Rio de Janeiro. — AFP/File
On June 22, after complaints based on social media posts, authorities found several environmental violations at the luxury property, where workers were building an artificial lake and beach.

Authorities cordoned off the site and ordered all activity to stop, but Brazilian media reported that Neymar threw a party there and bathed in the lake.

Neymar is currently recovering from surgery on his right ankle, which he underwent in Doha in March.

The striker has not played since February and doubts have arisen about his staying at PSG.

Neymar bought the Mangaratiba mansion in 2016. According to Brazilian media, it sits on 10,000 square meters (107,000 square feet) of land and features a heliport, spa and gym.