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Anger over semifinal humiliation spreads in Brazil

Posted July. 10, 2014 09:21,   

한국어

Is the world`s largest sports event headed toward a disaster? While Brazilians are in panic over their national team`s 1-7 humiliation against Germany in their home turf, a crime gang has threatened to target Colombia`s Juan Zuniga, whose aggressive play left Brazil`s top player Neymar with an injury in the semifinals.

According to the Brazilian media, PCC (Primeiro Comando da Capital), Brazil`s largest crime organization, said in a statement on Sunday that it would "retaliate" against Zuniga`s "intolerable act." PCC was created in 1993 by eight convicts who played soccer together in a prison. It continued to grow into a major crime organization with 13,000 members, with 6,000 of them in prison. The San Paolo-based group has members in some 20 states in the South American country and extends its influence to neighboring Paraguay and Bolivia.

On Tuesday, Zuniga provided a link on his Facebook page to a Bible quote "If God is for us, who can be against us?" He also posted on his Facebook page his letter of apology to Neymar.

In Columbia, Andres Escobar who scored an own goal in the 1994 World Cup in the United States was shot to death by a gunman.

The Columbian government has reportedly asked the Italian foreign ministry to protect Zuniga, as he plays for Italy`s Serie A club Napoli.

According to South Korea`s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there have been at least five cases of bus attacks and looting at large retailer outlets in Sao Paolo since Brazil`s semifinal defeat. In addition, robbery and violence cases have been reported at the Copacabana Beach, while disturbances occurred in Recife. The ministry issued a warning to Koreans staying in Brazil, recommending them to stay indoors and away from agitated crowds.