AUTHORITIES‘ POWER LESS’ TO HALT NEYMAR BASH

An end- of- year five- day long party for 150 people hosted by Brazilian soccer star Neymar is drawing scrutiny from local prosecutors, but Mangaratiba town officials said on Wednesday they cannot do anything to prevent the bash from taking place. Newspapers said guests had started arriving at the luxury condominium where the player owns property. Brazilian media said the Paris Saint Germain striker is hosting a party in Mangaratiba, a beachside town around 105 kilometres from Rio de Janeiro, but his public relations team was quoted as saying he was only a guest. Reports said he had bought a disused hangar for the event and required all guests to give up their cellphones to prevent photos and videos leaking online. The 28-year old has received widespread condemnation for the event. However, the mayor’s office in Mangaratiba said it cannot legislate private parties, adding “in the middle of a pandemic it is a question of each citizen’s responsibility and good sense” whether to host parties or attend big gatherings.