RIO DE JANEIRO: FIFA could take action against Colombia’s Juan Zuniga for the World Cup quarterfinal challenge that left Brazilian superstar Neymar with a fractured vertebrae, a spokeswoman said Saturday.

“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee is analyzing all the elements provided, the videos and the match reports, and will decide whether or not to take action,” FIFA spokeswoman Delia Fischer told a briefing.

Neymar was injured in Brazil’s 2-1 win over Colombia on Friday when Zuniga kneed him in the back. The Barcelona forward will miss the rest of the World Cup.

Zuniga, who plays for Napoli in Italy, has denied he intentionally sought to hurt the 22-year-old Brazilian.

“When I’m on the field I always do what I have to, to defend my country and the shirt I wear, but always without intent to injure anybody,” Zuniga told Brazilian television after the game.

“This was a game that everyone wanted to win so it was hot.” The Colombian said both sides were playing to their limits.

“They (the Brazilians) were also playing physically,” Zuniga stated.

Former World Cup winners Ronaldo of Brazil and Italy’s Fabio Cannavaro appeared at the daily FIFA briefing where the Neymar injury dominated debate.

“The injury was very violent,” said Ronaldo. “I believe there was an intention to hurt by the player. I believe it was very aggressive and very violent.” Cannavaro agreed.

“I believe that it was a situation which could have been avoided,” he said.

“I didn’t like that very high knee. That leads me to believe it was a foul with a prior intention to cause harm. It didn’t give me a very good impression. It’s a very evident foul,” the Italian added.

Pele said Saturday his heart ached for Neymar after Brazil’s star player was ruled out of the rest of the World Cup but noted that the team lifted the 1962 trophy despite his own injury.

The football legend, recalling that Neymar had played at Santos like him, wrote on Twitter that, “it hurts our hearts to know that he can no longer defend Brazil in the World Cup.”

“I was also injured during the 1962 World Cup in Chile, and I was out for the rest of the tournament,” he wrote in English and Portuguese.

“But God helped Brazil continue on to win the Championship. I hope the same will happen with our Selecao in this World Cup.”

Four-time world footballer of the year Lionel Messi wished his Barcelona teammate Neymar a quick recovery after the Brazil star Brazil suffered a fractured vertebrae ruling him out of the remainder of the World Cup.

“Neymar, I hope that you recover very quickly,” wrote the Argentinian on his Facebook page alongside a photgraph of the two stars in their Barcelona shirts.

A somber mood spread over Brazil on Saturday as football fans slowly came to grips with the loss of star striker Neymar.

The cover of top sports newspaper Lance stated simply: “Play For Him.”

Lance’s online version included headlines the “The sixth title will be for him!” and “The Brazilian team is going to bleed for Neymar.”

Rio de Janeiro’s O Globo paper headlined its special Cup section: “Without him, can it be?“

Yet hopes weren’t completely stamped out.

Juca Kfouri, one of Brazil’s most influential sports commentators, wrote in the Folha de S. Paulo newspaper in a column titled “Impossible?” that, yes, Brazil faces an immense challenge against the powerful Germany team in the semifinals on Tuesday.

Neymar is out and captain Thiago Silva is suspended, after picking up two yellow cards.

“The Germans are not only the favorites, they’re a sure thing,” Kfouri wrote. “And therein lies the danger — for them.

“Free of the shame of possibly not making it to the semifinals, the Brazilian side is now the underdog confronting mission impossible. The fans heading to Mineirao this Tuesday will be there with the core feeling of ‘I Believe’ — and they’ll be hoping for a miracle.”

That sliver of optimism was felt among some fans on the street, too.

Brazil is infamous for grinding bureaucracy that makes the simplest of tasks seemingly impossible — which many believe has made the Brazilian people more creative, more resilient and has given rise to an entire philosophy known in Portuguese as “jeitinho“— or the Brazilian Way.

Simply put, it’s the ability to resolve an tough situation using imagination, connections, subterfuge or sheer will and skill.

“Our ‘jeitinho’ should help Brazil overcome Neymar’s absence,” said Leandro Santos, a 30-year-old restaurant manager in Sao Paulo. “Brazilians always find unexpected ways to deal with problems and setbacks — and I think that’s what this team will do.”