Brazil star, Neymar, has revealed elbowing Luka Modric in the World Cup opening game was ‘unintentional’.
Neymar insists there was no malice in the incident and the referee was right to not send him off.
However, the yellow card leaves Neymar one bookable offence short of a one-match suspension, sparking fears he could miss a potentially important clash.
"Well, it was unintentional. The referee was close to us. If he could see any malice in it, he would have taken a more stringent call,” he told the Times of India.
"I am not worried. I shall be playing my natural game.
“During the match anything can happen and we have to take it as it comes. We cannot apprehend anything and sit idle."
The 22-year-old scored twice in Brazil’s 3-1 victory over Croatia, the second coming from a penalty which was almost saved, and explained his relief that the penalty went in.
"For a second my heart was in my mouth! Ultimately it went in and I felt relieved,” he added.
“We needed to take the lead and it was a perfect opportunity for us. I was not tense but changed my mind while taking it."
Brazil will face Mexico in their second Group A fixture tonight.
Do you think Neymar should have been send off for his elbowing Luka Modric? Have your say in the comment section below.