1 Nov 2012

I'm no cheat says Neumann

11:21 am on 1 November 2012

The Adelaide United striker Jeronimo Neumann says he's not a cheat and didn't dive in an incident which has caused an A-League furore.

Neumann was visibly upset when defending himself of diving allegations and being branded a cheat by Wellington captain Andrew Durante.

Phoenix defender Ben Sigmund was sent off in the incident, a straight red card later upheld by Football Federation Australia on appeal by Wellington.

Argentine Neumann was distressed when fronting the media in Adelaide, with his teammate Cassio interpreting for him.

He says he felt Sigmund pull his shirt and clip his ankle and that he believes the Phoenix defender's red card was justified.

The FFA also upheld Sigmund's one-match ban for the straight red card, verdicts which left Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert fuming.

Herbert says the game is being ruined by players who dive and do not get punished for it

Durante, in a post-game interview, labelled Neumann a "cheat" for diving and both he and Herbert could face sanctions for their comments under the A-League's code of conduct.

The Phoenix issued a brief statement in which general manager David Dome said the the club "respectfully accepted" the the match review panel's decision over Sigmund's dismissal.