Ajax's Joel Veltman has defended himself after being criticised for a piece of unsportsmanlike behaviour.

The right-back has insisted he did not do anything wrong after pretending to stop the game for injured team mate, Bertrand Traore, before sprinting down the line to deliver a cross.

Sparta Rotterdam defender, Ivan Calero, was ready to challenge Veltman before the 25-year-old signalled for his opponent to stop so that Traore could be treated.

The issue of whether play should be stopped to allow an injured player to receive treatment has long been contested, but the 25-year-old defender used the confusion to his own benefit on Sunday afternoon, insisting he was just being "clever."