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opinionista:
More on Zidane: Case Closed. Materazzi admitted he insulted Zidane, but denies using a racist expletive. It's on CNN.
FIFA investigate Zidane head-butt
Tuesday, July 11, 2006 Posted: 1636 GMT (0036 HKT)
LONDON, England -- FIFA are to open a disciplinary investigation into the circumstances surrounding France captain Zinedine Zidane's head-butt on Marco Materazzi during the World Cup final.
Playing the last match of his career, the French midfielder drove his head into Materazzi's chest in the second period of extra time in Berlin after exchanging comments with the Italian.
FIFA will open a disciplinary investigation into Zidane's conduct to enable it to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident," said FIFA in a statement.
What exactly was said between the two remains a mystery although Materazzi has denied allegations he called Zidane a "dirty terrorist".
"I used an insult that I've heard used a dozen times and which is heard all the time on the pitch," said Materazzi -- when asked whether he had insulted Zidane's sister.
"I certainly did not call him a terrorist: I'm ignorant, I don't even know exactly what an Islamic terrorist is ... I also certainly didn't say anything about Zidane's mother: for me, a mother is sacrosanct."
"Italy won the final in a penalty shootout after Zidane was sent off for the head-butt.
There was further controversy when the incident was brought to the attention of referee Horacio Elizondo by the fourth official at the match, prompting suggestions that he had used television replays.
FIFA backed the version of the fourth official, who insisted he had seen the foul as it happened. Video technology cannot be used as a basis for a refereeing decision.
"The incident was directly observed -- without the use of a monitor -- by fourth official Luis Medina Cantalejo from his position at the pitchside, who informed the referee and his assistants through the communications system," said the world body.
In an ironic touch, Zidane was later declared the outstanding player of the tournament, the winner of FIFA's Golden Ball award, in a vote decided by the media.
FIFA could not confirm how many of those votes were cast before the 34-year-old's red card. "The votes were cast into ballot boxes in the media center in Berlin that remained open until midnight on the day of the final," it said.
"It is impossible to determine how many journalists cast their votes before the match and how many during it, as the ballot papers were not counted until after the deadline for voting had expired."
Zidane has not explained his actions publicly although he is expected to later this week. Materazzi said the incident started when he grabbed Zidane by the shirt.
"He turned round, he said to me with a sneer, looking at me up and down, mockingly 'If you really want my shirt, I'll give it to you afterwards'," the Italian said.
http://edition.cnn.com/2006/SPORT/football/07/11/fifa.zidane/index.html
isabelle:
--- Quote from: isabelle on July 09, 2006, 07:10:10 pm ---(and I'm sure we're gonna hear some awful comment from our National Front, the French fascist/neo-nazi party, who already commented in the past on the "colour" and "origin" of our players! Starting tomorrow I'm sure).
--- End quote ---
MEA CULPA! MEA MAXIMA CULPA!! I was wrong. Even the Italian fascists beat ours! Indeed, it is Roberto Calderoli, a former Minister in the Berlusconi government, who played that dirty game. After the Italian team's victory, he declared :
"Our victory in Berlin is a victory of our identity, of a team of Lombards, Napolitans, Venetians, Calabrians, who won against a team that sacrificed its own identity by putting in line Blacks, islamists and communists in order to obtain results." It would make me laugh, were it not so pathetically laughable!
LOL!!! :laugh: :laugh: (but Materazzi PLEASE, are you such a moron as not to know what an islamist terrorist is supposed to be?? -see article above - Give us a break, man!)
Lumière:
--- Quote from: opinionista on July 12, 2006, 07:21:01 am ---More on Zidane: Case Closed. Materazzi admitted he insulted Zidane, but denies using a racist expletive. It's on CNN.
What exactly was said between the two remains a mystery although Materazzi has denied allegations he called Zidane a "dirty terrorist".
"I used an insult that I've heard used a dozen times and which is heard all the time on the pitch," said Materazzi -- when asked whether he had insulted Zidane's sister.
"I certainly did not call him a terrorist: I'm ignorant, I don't even know exactly what an Islamic terrorist is ... I also certainly didn't say anything about Zidane's mother: for me, a mother is sacrosanct."
--- End quote ---
::) ::)
henrypie:
Materazzi's line that he's "ignorant" of what an Islamic terrorist is sounds like it was handed to him by a publicist. Not only do the most hateful things come out of the most ignorant people, but his very ownership of his ignorance negates that ignorance, you know what I mean? It's too sophisticated a notion for someone who claims to be unsophisticated.
Although I heard that both deny a terrorist comment.
Giancarlo:
Oh please. You people have no idea what he said. And some lipreader is not going to tell you either, especially when lipreading only can pick up 25% of the words (and that is from close distance). What Zidane did was childish and they are considering pulling his best player award from him and giving it to the person who really deserved it, Fabio Cannavaro. Cannavaro was a better sport and is a much better player then Zidane. He's also a professional when it comes to behavior.
Materazzi is not a racist, nor is he a bigot. Jeez, people insult each other all the time on the field. I even played for an amateur football league while I was living in Argentina and it was common. I just let it go over my head, and continue playing. Headbutting someone when they say something mean to you is immature and quite unprofessional. I want Zidane to lose his best player award just for that.
http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1227435,00.html
Sky is a pretty iffy source, but I have heard this from several sources.
Isabelle is on her usual rant about bashing Materazzi, who basically equalized against France. I Think a lot of people in the French media are bitter because they know it was Materazzi who scored that equalizing goal and they see this headbutting incident, as an opportunity to use slander against him. I hope Materazzi has a good lawyer... I wonder how effective it is to sue in the EU for slander.
So many sour grapes here. I'm sorry that France lost and I'm sorry that Zidane had to resort to immaturity and violence. I guess that's a symbol of the state of affairs in France. I really don't think you guys should be directing all your anger at Materazzi, and hell I heard it was Zidane who said something first to Materazzi that was insulting. They traded words, and Zidane became a child. Your anger is misdirected and rather should be directed at ZIDANE HIMSELF!
Guys... before you bash me... understand... I had a lot of respect for Zidane and I feared him in this match. But right now... I have lost all respect for the guy. Great player or not, he's not professional.
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