Football
ESPN staff 9y

Manchester City fan: I did nothing wrong in Neymar confronation

The Manchester City fan involved in a minor altercation with Neymar has insisted that he did nothing wrong.

Barcelona's Brazil forward went to confront 19-year-old student Aziz Hammad at the end of his side's 2-1 Champions League win over City at Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.

The student admitted making a diving gesture to Neymar -- alluding to his reputation for going to ground easily -- but said he could not understand what the World Cup star had said in response.

He said he did not want him to face any further punishment and that his main concern was that his season ticket would be confiscated.

Hammad told the Manchester Evening News: "He stared at me for a few seconds and looked to see if his manager was watching. Then he gestured for me to come over, but straight away the whistle went.

"Then he came over and put his face right in my face. I didn't know whether he was going to push me or what he was going to do.

"He was saying something to me in either Portuguese or Spanish, but I couldn't understand him. I kept doing the diving gesture to annoy him. Then the stewards pulled me away and he went down the tunnel."

Hammad, studying at Manchester University, said he felt Neymar had acted unprofessionally.

"Throughout football he is known for being a diver and half of the stadium were probably doing the same thing," he added.

"That's normal. If you are a professional, you expect to be goaded by the home fans. That's football.

"He has singled me out because I was stood up. He was very unprofessional.

"But I don't want to be in danger of losing my season ticket, and want to make it clear I did nothing wrong. It wasn't a very serious incident, but I hope he wouldn't react like that again."

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