Neymar’s father said it is illogical to think his son will play against Real Madrid next week, telling ESPN the injured 26-year-old won’t be available until April at the earliest.

“PSG know that they can’t have Neymar for six weeks at least,” Neymar Sr. said. “Because treatment requires six to eight weeks.”

Asked whether his son would miss next Tuesday’s crucial Champions League clash, Neymar Sr. added: “Yes, of course he is out against Real Madrid. It is absurd if anybody thinks otherwise.”

Neymar was diagnosed with a sprained ankle and a fractured metatarsal after being stretchered off the pitch toward the end of Sunday’s 3-0 win over Marseille. Manager Unai Emery called for calm while emphasising that the capital club had yet to decide whether to proceed with surgery.

A doctor from the Brazilian national team is already en route to Paris to assess the injury, according to Neymar Sr. With the World Cup a little more than three months away, Brazil has an obvious interest in the player’s well-being.

Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte reported earlier in the day that Neymar had opted to go under the knife, but Neymar Sr. neither confirmed nor denied that.

Sources also told ESPN FC correspondent Jonathan Johnson that Neymar would rather not play through the pain so close to the World Cup. Those close to the player would instead prefer surgery to ensure a full and quick recovery, Johnson added.

The injuries come at a delicate point in PSG’s season, with the Qatari-backed outfit down 3-1 on aggregate to Los Blancos. The club has yet to make it past the Champions League quarter-finals since Qatar Sports Investments took control in 2011.

The video assistant referees (VAR) system is set to be used at this summer’s World Cup in Russia after football’s lawmakers voted on Saturday to approve the use of the officiating technology.

The officiating system was sanctioned when the International Football Association Board voted unanimously to introduce VAR on a permanent basis in a “landmark” decision that’s expected to be implemented across the football world.

It is expected the FIFA Council meeting on March 16 will confirm the use of VAR at the World Cup.

A statement from IFAB, which is made up of the Football Associations of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, as well as FIFA, read: “This landmark meeting, chaired by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, represents a new era for football with video assistance for referees helping to increase integrity and fairness in the game.”

IFAB began experimenting with VAR – which applies the use of a philosophy intended for “minimum interference – maximum benefit” – in March 2016 to identify its usefulness in reducing unfairness caused by obvious errors and incidents missed by the match official.

The officiating system will be used to overturn errors involving goals, penalty awards, red cards, and mistaken identity.

“As of today, video assistant refereeing is part of football,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said, according to Richard Conway of BBC Sport.

“We hope and encourage a favourable decision in this respect because we are very positive about VAR.”

Germany and Italy implemented the use of VAR ahead of the current season, while Spain and France’s top flights will introduce the technology for the 2018-19 season.

Meanwhile, Premier League clubs in England reportedly decided to delay the introduction of VAR until at least the 2019-20 campaign.

Paris Saint-Germain revealed that Neymar’s foot injury will be assessed in six weeks to determine a possible date for his return to training after the Brazilian superstar underwent surgery Saturday.

Neymar was injured during PSG’s Le Classique victory over Marseille last week and was subsequently diagnosed with a sprained ankle and a fractured metatarsal.

He was initially only expected to miss six weeks before Brazil’s team doctor, Rodrigo Lasmar, examined the injury. He determined that Neymar, who will be absent during PSG’s upcoming Champions League match against Real Madrid, could miss up to three months.

A statement from PSG, as translated by ESPN FC, said that the procedure – performed by Dr. Lasmar in Brazil – to repair the fracture on his fifth metatarsal went as planned. The surgery “consisted of the laying of a screw associated with a transplant fixed at the level of the lesion of the fifth metatarsal of the right foot.”

“The operation is over, Neymar is already in his room. It went well,” a spokesperson for the Brazilian football federation (CBF) said, according to Spanish outlet AS.

Based on Dr. Lasmar’s estimation, the 26-year-old may be able to return to action ahead of Brazil’s first World Cup match in Russia against Switzerland on June 17.

Toby Alderweireld will miss the second leg of Tottenham Hotspur’s Champions League round-of-16 meeting with Juventus as he deals with a persistent hamstring injury.

The Belgian defender has featured in just two matches since early November – completing the full 90 minutes against Newport County and Rochdale in the FA Cup – and rumours abound that he is in manager Mauricio Pochettino’s bad books while he refuses to sign a new contract.

Related – Pochettino: ‘Not my job’ to negotiate Alderweireld contract

When Alderweireld didn’t travel for the 2-2 draw in Turin for the first leg, Pochettino opted for Jan Vertonghen and Davinson Sanchez in the middle of a back-four, with Serge Aurier and Ben Davies on either side. The midfield drew most plaudits in that fixture, but Vertonghen notably hoofed five clearances, performed three interceptions, and retained possession better than any of his defensive colleagues.

Before Wednesday’s second leg against Juventus, Spurs welcome Huddersfield Town to Wembley on Saturday.