1. Soccer: Colombia Offers Zuñiga Security After Insults Over Neymar
Brazil'sdefenderMarcelo(R) vieswithColombia'sdefenderJuanCamiloZunigaduringthe
quarter-final footballmatchbetweenBrazil andColombiaatthe Castelao StadiuminFortaleza
duringthe 2014 FIFA WorldCup on July4, 2014. AFPPhoto
BOGOTÁ,COLOMBIA — Colombia'sfootball federationwill provide securitymeasuresfordefender
CamiloZuñigaoverthreatshe has receivedforafoul thatendedBrazilianforward Neymar'sWorld
Cup,the rulingbodysaidon Wednesday. Zuñiga'sraised-kneechallengeduringaroughquarter-
final whenBrazil beatColombia2-1leftNeymarwithabrokenvertebraandoutof the hosts'semi-
final againstGermany. The 28-year-oldrightback,whoplayshisclubfootball withNapoli,senthis
bestwishesfora speedyrecoverytoNeymarandsaidthere wasnoill intentinthe clash. But there
was a vitriolicreactioninsome quarters,especiallyfromBrazil,wherecurrentandex-players
calledthe tackle "cowardly"and"evil."
Brazil fanshave alsotaken to social mediato berate him. "The ColombianFootball Federation
rejectsall threatsandinsultsagainstthe playerCamiloZuñigaandhisfamily,"the national body
saidin a statement. "Itreiteratesitwillcontinuetakingall actionswiththe appropriatesecurity
and governmentorganstogive the necessaryguaranteestothe player,forbothhistime in
ColombiaandhispermanentresidencyinItaly."
ZuñigaiscurrentlyonholidayinColombiaafterthe team'swonderful WorldCuprunand isdue to
returnto Italyin days.Earlierthisweek,football'sworldgoverningbodyFIFA ruledthathe would
not be retrospectivelypunishedforthe clash,notingitcouldnotreopenthe case because the
referee haddealtwithitonthe pitch.