Fifa rejects Thiago Silva appeal; refuses to take action over Neymar injury
Governing body says 'no legal basis' to rescind defender's yellow card and that Colombian defender Juan Zuniga can't be punished after the fact
Fifa rejected Brazil’s request to allow suspended captain Thiago Silva to face Germany in the World Cup semi-finals as it angrily hit back at claims referees had been ordered to take a lenient approach to foul play.
A statement from Fifa’s disciplinary committee dismissed Brazil’s plea for Silva out of hand, stating there was “no legal basis” for the defender’s yellow card against Colombia to be rescinded.
In a further snub, Fifa disciplinary chiefs also ignored the growing clamour in Brazil for Colombian defender Juan Camilo Zuniga to face retrospective punishment over the aerial challenge that ended Neymar’s tournament.
The statement said the committee “deeply regrets the incident and the serious consequences on Neymar’s health”.
But Zuniga could not be punished because the incident in last Friday’s stormy quarter-final had been seen by the match officials, a statement said.
Disciplinary action could only be applied retrospectively in cases of mistaken identity where a referee shows a yellow or red card to the wrong player.