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FIFA opt not to take action against Colombia's Zuniga

Colombia defender Juan Zuniga has received no penalty for his involvement in the back injury sustained by Brazil's Neymar in the World Cup quarter-final on Friday.

The Napoli full-back collided with Neymar late in his side's 2-1 defeat in Fortaleza, forcing the Barcelona ace off the pitch on a stretcher, before X-rays revealed a fractured vertebrae in his back.

In the wake of Neymar's serious injury, the incident has been reviewed by FIFA but they have found that Zuniga will not be charged with any wrongdoing for his part.

"The chairman of the FIFA disciplinary committee deeply regrets the incident and the serious consequences on Neymar's health," read the statement.

"No retrospective action can be taken... since the incident involving the Colombian player Juan Camilo Zuniga Mosquera did not escape the match officials' attention.

"The conditions by which the FIFA disciplinary committee can intervene in any incident have to be considered independently of the consequences of that incident, such as an unfortunate injury suffered by a player.

"We wish Neymar a prompt and complete recovery as we wish the same for all players who have sadly been ruled out of the World Cup through injury."

Neymar has been ruled out of the World Cup semi-final with Germany in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday and is highly unlikely to play any further part in the 2014 tournament.

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Andrew Slevison
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