Death threats, racism directed at Zuniga

Colombia's Juan Zuniga received a flood of death threats and racist abuse on social media Saturday as Brazilians reacted angrily to his tournament-ending foul on star forward Neymar.

"Zuniga" was trending on Twitter and messages included a torrent of abusive comment aimed at the Napoli defender after he kneed Neymar in the back, fracturing a vertebrae.

Among the less offensive posts, contributors called the 28-year-old a "monster" and the "biggest villain in the history of football."

The abuse was tempered by other posts that called for calm and said racist abuse was unacceptable.

Zuniga earlier said he did not mean to hurt Neymar in the challenge, which came towards the end of a combative match that saw 54 fouls.