LONDON, 14 July 2006 — FIFA have begun disciplinary proceedings against Italy’s Marco Materazzi over the incident in which he was head butted by Zinedine Zidane in the World Cup final, soccer’s world governing body said yesterday.
France captain Zidane was sent off in extra time after the butt, a reaction to comments by the Italian defender he said later, in Sunday’s Berlin final won by Italy on penalties. FIFA said the proceedings opened yesterday follow Zidane’s remarks on French television on Wednesday night in which he said he was repeatedly insulted by Materazzi.
Zidane apologized to a world audience for his reaction, his final act as a professional footballer, but said he did not regret it because to do so would imply he was wrong to have responded to Materazzi.
“As part of the process, Zinedine Zidane will be given the right to be heard by means of a written statement, which must be submitted by 18 July,” FIFA said.
“Materazzi will subsequently be sent a copy of the statement so that he can respond to it,” they said in a statement.
“Both players have been summoned to attend a face-to-face hearing before the disciplinary committee at FIFA headquarters in Zurich on Thursday, 20 July.
“Zidane, who had announced he was retiring from football after the tournament, was sent off eight minutes from the end of the final which ended 1-1 after extra time and went to a shootout which Italy won 5-3. He had opened the scoring for France in the seventh minute with a penalty with Materazzi equalizing in the 19th when he headed home Andrea Pirlo’s corner.
France Happy With Zidane’s Apology
In Paris, French ministers, former coaches and players, intellectuals and ordinary fans yesterday hailed soccer star Zinedine Zidane’s half apology for head-butting an opponent in the World Cup final.
Zidane told the nation in television interviews on Wednesday that he was sorry his actions had been witnessed by millions of children around the world, but said he could have no regrets for defending his family from an Italian player’s insults.
“I think Zinedine Zidane said what we all expected. That is to say he apologized, in particular to children and teachers,” said Sports Minister Jean-Francois Lamour.
Zidane, playing his last game for his country, was sent off in Sunday’s final for striking Italy defender Marco Materazzi in the chest. The French captain said he lashed out after the Italian insulted his mother and sister.
His sending off 10 minutes before the end of the game ensured he missed the penalty shoot-out which Italy won 5-3.
L’Equipe, France’s top sporting paper which bitterly criticized his attack on Materazzi in Monday’s paper, was more conciliatory on Thursday, pointing to Zidane’s impassioned comments on the need to fight the racism blighting the sport.
“Never, during a long career during which he heard such things hundreds of times, had he touched on this subject,” the paper wrote in an editorial.
“These interviews by Zinedine Zidane were a fairly solemn way of saying goodbye, after the missed opportunity of Berlin.” Materazzi has admitted insulting Zidane, but denied referring to his opponent’s mother or making racist comments.
Michel Hidalgo, a former coach of the national football side, was among leading figures who refused to condemn Zidane out of hand, telling French radio: “One can sense that he is someone who has been hurt, because he could have had a golden goodbye if this incident hadn’t happened.
“He feels offended and he lost his temper. He said it was reprehensible. We also have to say to him that he can be forgiven for it.” Ordinary fans welcomed his apology. “What struck me most of all was that Zidane is a man of honor,” entertainment worker Herve Lambinet, 54, told Le Parisien. Israeli writer Etgar Keret in the Liberation newspaper said Zidane’s action was that of a man embracing his fate.
“By his explosion of anger this player chose to end his magnificent career not as a legend, but as an individual, warm, sensitive and not larger than life.” Zidane can still count on the unwavering support of Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso.
“There is disappointment on one side because he’s my favorite player and these things you cannot do on the field,” said the Renault driver and Real Madrid fan at the French Grand Prix in Magny-Cours yesterday. “But I still support him. When you do something like that it is because something happened before. It’s the normal reaction for a professional,” added the Spaniard. Italian driver Jarno Trulli, however, said he could not condone what Zidane had done. “I can understand his reaction but unfortunately I cannot forgive him,” Trulli said.
French Lawyer Plans Challenge to World Cup Result
Meantime, a French lawyer plans to ask a court to intervene in the controversy over Zinedine Zidane’s sending-off in the World Cup final.
Doubts over whether a match official relied on video evidence of Zidane’s head butt to Italian defender Marco Materazzi meant the final should be replayed, lawyer Mehana Mouhou said. “I am going to ask the judge to question all individuals concerned and to reconstruct the end of the refereeing,” Mouhou, who is based in the northern town of Rennes, told Reuters yesterday. “If it is proved that the fourth referee used video evidence, FIFA can have the final replayed,” he said.
Mouhou said he was acting on behalf of a number of clubs and associations whose names he would reveal once the application had been filed with the Tribunal de Grande Instance in Paris, one of France’s main civil courts.
French captain Zidane was sent off in extra time in Sunday’s final in Berlin after he head butted Materazzi, apparently in reaction to comments by the defender.
The incident went unseen by the referee and his two linesmen. The referee was informed about the head butt by the fourth match official who said he had witnessed the action. French team officials have challenged this version of events, saying the official knew what happened because he saw a video replay.
FIFA rules prevent referees from using video evidence during the course of a match. “The divergence of opinion means that the justice system should decide,” Mouhou said.
“If it is proved that video was used, I will ask for the match to be nullified.”
