Brazil striker Fred has denied accusations he cheated to win a crucial penalty in the 3-1 opening World Cup win over Croatia and said contact from a defender was enough to “knock me off the ball and stop me scoring.”
Fred went down in the 69th minute of the Group A match on Thursday with the score 1-1. Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura immediately pointed to the spot, incensing the Croatian players, and Neymar converted the kick.
“It was a clear penalty, there’s no such thing as a more penalty or a less penalty,” Fred told the Brazilian Football Confederation’s TV channel on Friday.
“I controlled the ball and was about to turn, I got a hit on my shoulder, I lost control of the ball, I lost my balance and I fell,” he added. “I am not a player who throws himself to the ground.
“I see lots of people saying it wasn’t a penalty but there was contact and it was enough to knock me off the ball and stop me scoring. His comments came just moments after FIFA’s head of refereeing defended the experienced Japanese official.
Massimo Busacca, in charge of refereeing for world soccer’s ruling body, told reporters in Rio De Janeiro that Nishimura’s decision appeared to be justified.
