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Vindicated: Lucas Neill says he accepts Les Murray's apology. (Getty Images: Robert Cianflone)
Respected football commentator Les Murray has miraculously backtracked on claims that Socceroos skipper Lucas Neill led a dressingroom revolt at last year's World Cup.
Murray claimed in his new book The World Game that Neill told the team to ignore coach Pim Verbeek's game plan just before taking the field in the opening 4-0 loss to Germany in Durban.
Neill labelled the accusations as "scandalous" and said he was considering taking legal action.
Murray today released a statement saying he had got it wrong and that any future editions of the book would exclude the accusations.
"In the light of new information that has come to hand, I accept that I was misled by my sources and that Lucas Neill did not call for the team to ignore the then national coach's instructions," he said.
"In my view Lucas Neill has been an outstanding captain of the Australian national football team and the third party report of the Australian game against Germany was never meant to be disparaging of Mr Neill's character and sense of duty to the team.
"I take this opportunity to unreservedly apologise to Lucas Neill for any hurt or embarrassment concerning this matter."
Neill said in a statement that he accepted Murray's apology.
"I am obviously still disappointed that my name has been wrongly attached to these allegations, but I accept the apology that has been issued by Les Murray," he said
"After discussing the matter with Les, I have decided not to proceed with legal action.
"It was important for me to ensure that my reputation remain intact and make the public aware that I have never, nor would ever, behave in this manner towards a manager.
"Furthermore I'm happy that any further prints of the book will exclude this extract.
"I sincerely hope that anybody who reads the book in its current form understands that the allegations that were reported about me are completely false."
Neill said last week that it was goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer and not he who delivered the pre-match address to the team.
Murray initially stood by his claims, saying he had not intended to paint Neill in a bad light but was instead trying to highlight Verbeek's defensive tactics.
Several Socceroos players, including Craig Moore, Luke Wilkshire and Mile Jedinak, as well Football Federation Australia chief Ben Buckley, denied Murray's claims.
First posted
Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/06/29/3256824.htm
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