FIFA World Cup Shocker: Zuniga ensured Neymar's exit, now gets death threat

Updated: Tuesday, July 8, 2014, 11:00 [IST]

Bangalore, July 7: Social media has gone abuzz with prayers for injured Neymar. However, the same social media showed its another side while cursing and abusing the villain of the moment -- Juan Zuniag, the Colombian footballer who have been facing the heat of the moment.

Zuniag, who received racist abuse on the social media, also received death threat as angry Brazilians and Neymar fans who reacted on micro-blogging site Twitter over his tournament-ending foul on the Brazilian star forward.

Neymar was ruled out from the tournament after he fractured a vertebrae during his side's 2-1 World Cup quarter final win over Colombia.Zuniga, the Colombia defender, kneed the 22-year-old Neymar in a crunching tackle and the Barcelona player was stretchered off in agony in the closing minutes of the game in Forteleza. [Read: World Cup: Injured Neymar wants to play final if Brazil make it]

I never wanted to hurt Brazilian player Neymar: Zuniga

However, Zuniag refused all allegations against him saying, "I never wanted to hurt the player. When I'm on the pitch, I do everything to defend my country and the shirt I wear, but always without intent to injure anybody."

Defending himself, he also added, "It was a match both teams wanted to win. It got a bit heated. There were strong tackles but the Brazilians were doing the same. It's normal. I didn't make that challenge trying to break his spine. I was defending my country."

Continuing his statement, he said, "It's a very sad thing. I hope, with the help of God that it's not too serious because everyone knows he's a great talent for Brazil."

Now, it seems that this football tournament may become deadly for Zuniag as 1994 world cup had become for another young Colombian footballer Andres Escobar. The young Colombian defender Andres Escobar was killed for his own goal at the 1994 World Cup in USA. [Read: Andres Escobar remembered at World Cup 2014; siblings share 'sad' memories 20 years on]

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