Colombia's Rodriguez denies bust-up after Ecuador mauling

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2022 South American Qualifiers - Colombia v Uruguay - Estadio Metropolitano R. Melendez, Barranquilla, Colombia - November 13, 2020 Colombia's James Rodriguez reacts after sustaining an injury REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez/File Photo

(Reuters) - Colombia’s James Rodriguez has strongly denied reports he was involved in a dressing-room bust-up after the national team’s 6-1 defeat by Ecuador in a World Cup qualifier this week.

The Everton midfielder said the speculation about confrontations between team mates after the loss were "slander" designed to create discord in the struggling squad.