FIFA rejected Brazil’s request to "allow suspended captain Thiago Silva to face Germany" in the semifinals as it "angrily hit back at claims referees had been ordered to take a lenient approach to foul play," according to the AFP. 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plea for Silva out of hand, stating there was 'no legal basis' for the defender's yellow card against Colombia to be rescinded."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 that the committee "deeply regrets the incident and the serious consequences on Neymar's health." But a statement said that Zuniga "could not be punished because the incident in last Friday's stormy quarter-final had been seen by the match officials" (AFP, 7/8). IANS reported Barcelona said that "its doctor will be travelling to Brazil to check on Neymar's fitness." Barcelona Sporting Dir Andoni Zubizarreta said, "We are in direct contact with the Brazilian confederation's doctors. We know he is at home and stable" (IANS, 7/8).
