Brazilian soccer star Neymar has been fined 16 million reais ($3.3 million) by a prosecutor in Brazil for constructing a lake at his Rio de Janeiro mansion without obtaining an environmental license, authorities revealed on Monday.
The town council of Mangaratiba issued four fines for environmental violations related to the creation of an artificial lake at Neymar's residence, situated in a tourist area approximately 130 kilometers (80 miles) from Rio de Janeiro, where the Paris Saint-Germain player owns a mansion.
The penalties amount to over 16 million reais, as determined by the prosecutor's office in Mangaratiba.
The list of infractions includes numerous violations, such as carrying out construction work without proper environmental authorization, unauthorized diversion of river water, and unauthorized land excavation and vegetation removal.
Neymar has a 20-day window to appeal the fine, which was initially set at five million reais, close to one million dollars.
Authorities discovered the environmental violations on June 22 after receiving complaints based on social media posts. They promptly cordoned off the site and ordered all activities to cease.
However, Brazilian media reported that Neymar organized a party at the property and even took a dip in the lake, disregarding the directives. Neymar's press office in Brazil did not respond to a request for comment from AFP.
Currently recuperating from ankle surgery he underwent in Doha in March, the 31-year-old striker has been absent from the field since February, raising doubts about his future at PSG.
Neymar acquired the Mangaratiba mansion in 2016, which spans approximately 10,000 square meters (107,000 square feet) and boasts amenities such as a heliport, spa, and gym, according to Brazilian media reports.
