World Cup Football

[bhall]

Yeah... I know, and yeah, that behaviour shouldn't be tolerated, but you can't exactly just blame Monsieur Zidane totally.

Apparently, the Italian player called him a terrorist because of Zidane being born in Algeria. Is that a harsh, below-the-belt thing to say? Absolutely. Does it warrant a headbutt? Hell, yes, I'd punch someone who called me that...but I wouldn't do it in the World Cup final, my last match, when the hopes and dreams of an entire country were resting on my shoulders.

Does anyone think Zidane would've missed the PK that the other French player missed?

[Spencifer_Murphy]

Well watching the news at home on BBC I saw that various apparent things had been said. These incuded:

1. Calling Zidane's sick mother a whore (don't know what she is sick with)

2. Calling Zidane a terrorist

3. Calling him a word (i forgot) which means an Algerian which sides with the french (a derogatory term used when the Algerians were at war with the french a long time ago)

However a BBC lip reader said that the Italian (Materazzi) said "I wish a slow and painful death for your family" followed by something else cut short which couldn't be lip read (possibly one of the comments above) in which case the entire sentence could have been:

"I wish a slow and painful death for you and your family you Algerian terrorist"

Now Zidane was NOT right for headbutting him, probably deserves a fine seeing as he can't be suspended as he has retired. BUT if it's true that that was said:

1. I don't blame Zidane for what he did

2. Materazzi deserves a VERY severe punishment ESPECAILLY after during the quarter finals of this World Cup there were lots of speeches about "Lets Kick Racism Out of Football" by the captains of each team.

Absoutely disgusting behaviour of that was what was said. Materazzi deserves a ban and a fine. (and another one of those headbutts )

BUT again - Zidane shouldn't have done it, win the world cup first, THEN after retiring nut Materazzi - THAT would have been the way to do it.

[Vasco]

I hope hope he cracked materazzi's ribs. Because of materazzi, Zidane's image has been tarnished.

[Principessa]

I'm sorry but that's really rubbish! How old is Zidane? 37? He has been on footballfields for years and years now and he has to know that on a field some things are said to each other to provoce. He does it too! Believe me!
In every sport, the rivals try to provoce the other and the one that gets provoced just has to be smart enough not to react on it! It was a stupid thing of Zidane to do in his LAST game! He let his team down! And it's not the first time that he does things like this! He should be smart enough not to react on it! And I'm really sorry, but he must have done something as well. Players don't start to insult one another without a reason.

I'm a big fan of Zizou. He's an amazing player, but he has a little devil inside of him. He made a big mistake and had to say goodbye to football on such a horrible way, only because he couldn't control himself. I think that's bad for football and his image. But that's not the fault of Materazzi. He did it his own!
Anyway, Zizou will always be remembered for the amazing things he showed on the grasss.

[Scuderia_Russ]

Zidane and Eric Cantona would make an excellent tag team in the W.W.F.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... NTONA+KICK

[Spencifer_Murphy]

HEHE I remember watching that match live, thinking uh-oh what's going on, Eric aint happy...

...wait a minute..did he just do what I think he did?!

I BTW, Principessa I totally agree with you, Zidane should not have done what he did either way.

BUT from Zidane's point of view all they can do is:
1. Give him a ban
2. Fine him

and the problems with these are:
1. This is his ast match anyway
2. The sum they will fine him is relatively just small change to him

Morally speaking its wrong, your absolutely right, he's a role model to many kids as an international football star.

But I bet Cantona & Zidane will look back on whatever punishment they got and think: "Well...yeah...It was worth it!"

[Jason]

How old is Zidane? 37?

Or I should say 34?

[Venom]

If he was going to give him little headbut in the chest, he should at least use his fist and knock him out. Then it would be "worth it". This way, he didn't do anything to him, just got a red car, called a loser and lost the world cup on the top.

If those swearing words are true, the Italian should be well punished as that is serious insult.

[saam]

It absolutely doesnt matter what the italian defender said on the pitch. It should have rolled off of zidane's head, BUT it didnt and we all seen what happened. If anyone thinks its materazzi's fault for the actions of what another person did doesnt know what they are talking about.

When totti spat on another player and got suspended he deserved what he got, but nobody talks about why totti reacted the way he did or what was said to him do they????

Its the 14 time zidane had been sent off the pitch........... HELLO

And if your still not convinced then id say the italian outsmarted the frenchman, because on the pitch whatever is said, STAYS on the pitch. simple

[Tom]

Congrats Italy, After Zidane's move France just didn't deserve to win (your only as strong as your weakest link), I don't believe the other player made those comments and if he did he was wrong but such a man as Zidane should not have risen to them like a schoolchild!

[Spencifer_Murphy]

I don't believe the other player made those comments and if he did he was wrong but such a man as Zidane should not have risen to them like a schoolchild!

I 100% agree that Zidane should not have reacted on the pitch.

But...how can u not believe that the Italian said what he apparently said? In that case what on earth possessed Zidane to headbutt him?! Zidane has a short fuse yes, but he's no maniac. He doesn't headbutt people for the fun of it!

At the end of the day you can see the italian say something as zidane walks away, at which point zidane turns around and headbutts him, proof enough that something untoward was said.

[Tom]

in what language? I thought it was just an argument about shirt pulling, what made me wonder was that first Zidane acused Materazzi of calling him a terrorist (which he apparently didn't know what meant), then the next day Zidane said he was personnally abused, then the day after it was his mother and sister who were insulted. Materazzi saying he lost his mother when he was very young and was not about to insult other peoples made me suspiciouse of Zidane.

Just my opinion.

[DaveKillens]

It's a shame that at the end of FIFA's greatest event, the most prestigous tournament of all, it is smeared by such dirt. All the time when I tuned into watch a match, I witnessed such displays as "Fair Play", and "Fight Racism", yet in the end, this is exactly what happened on the pitch, in front of the world.
FIFA may preach it, but obviously, they don't practice it. What a terrible example to set for all the children all around the world.
And one pathetic part is the in the end, Zidane will be remembered as a great hero by his countrymen. The Italian player who spouted the hatred and racism was able to be part of the team that won the greatest prize for any team. Dirty play, low blows, cheating, and conduct that would never be tolerated in a children's match was one major factor in securing the win for Italy.
Congratulations to Italy for winning the World Cup, shame on them for having to resort to such disgraceful behavior.

[Scuderia_Russ]

Amazing! FIFA have given Zidane a three match ban and a £3,000 fine. Bloody disgusting if you ask me. FIFA should force Zidane out of retirement so that he can't play in the three matches... that'll teach him a lesson.