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July 5, 2014

FIFA investigate tackle that ended Neymar's World Cup and left him with fractured back


  • Neymar ruled out of World Cup after tackle from Colombia's Juan Zuniga
  • Zuniga says he did not mean to hurt the Brazil star 
  • Brazilian legend Ronaldo say tackle was 'violent' and meant to harm

FIFA's disciplinary committee is studying the challenge that led to Brazil's star player Neymar suffering a fractured vertebra to decide on action against Colombia's Juan Zuniga.
The Colombia defender caught Neymar with a knee in his back in a full-blooded challenge that went unpunished during Brazil's 2-1 quarter-final win.
FIFA head of media Delia Fischer said: 'The disciplinary committee is analysing the matter. The spirit of fair play is very important and we want to avoid difficult things on the field of play.'

Cynical: With the ball nowhere near Juan Zuniga smashes his knee into the lower part of Neymar's back
Cynical: With the ball nowhere near Juan Zuniga smashes his knee into the lower part of Neymar's back
Man down: The Barcelona forward falls to the ground after the challenge that rules him out of the semi-final
Man down: The Barcelona forward falls to the ground after the challenge that rules him out of the semi-final

Down: Neymar lies on the floor in pain and holds his back
Down: Neymar lies on the floor in pain and holds his back

Worry: Brazil's star man had to be carried off on a stretcher with three minutes of the game to play
Worry: Brazil's star man had to be carried off on a stretcher with three minutes of the game to play

The damage: Brazilian television stations obtained an x-ray of Neymar's back and highlighted the broken bone

The damage: Brazilian television stations obtained an x-ray of Neymar's back and highlighted the broken bone

Ronaldo, Brazil's former World Cup-winning striker, believes Zuniga had intended to hurt Neymar.
He told a news conference in Rio de Janeiro: 'The challenge was a very violent one - I believe there was an intention by the Colombian player to cause some harm
'I don't think it was normal football play, I don't know whether he had planned this beforehand but I do believe it was very aggressive, very violent.'
Zuniga defended the challenge after the match, saying he had not deliberately hurt Neymar. He said: 'It was a normal move, I never meant to hurt a player. I was on the field, playing for the shirt from my country, not intending to injure anyone. I was just defending my shirt.'

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