Published: Jul 07, 2014, 01:14 AM (IST)
Edited: Jul 07, 2014, 01:15 AM (IST)
Rio de Janeiro: Jul 7, 2014
World football body FIFA is investigating whether Colombia‘s Juan Zuniga made an intentional tackle on Brazilian striker Neymar during the FIFA World Cup 2014 quarter-final that left the Barcelona star out of the tournament with a fractured vertebrae.
“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee is analysing all the elements provided, the videos and the match reports and will decide whether or not to take action,” FIFA spokeswoman Delia Fischer told a briefing recently, reports EFE.
Neymar was injured in Brazil’s 2-1 win over Colombia on Friday when Zuniga kneed him in the back. The Barcelona star stumbled forward and fell on his face, wincing and in tears. He was carried off the field on a stretcher.
Neymar will miss the rest of the FIFA World Cup 2014 as he would need four to six weeks to heal, according to his doctors.
Zuniga, however, denied he intentionally sought to hurt Neymar, saying, “When I’m on the field. I always do what I have to, to defend my country and the shirt I wear, but always without intent to injury anybody.”
Neymar’s injury left Brazilian fans at a shock as they face Germany in a tough semi-final on Tuesday.
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