Zidane Comments On The Headbutt Incident
Zinedine Zidane finally spoke out about his clash with Materazzi in the World Cup final (a clash that left Materazi flattened on the floor and got Zidane a straight red card).
What Zidane Said
Speaking in a live interview on Canal Plus (French television channel), Zidane said:
‘The reaction is always punished but if there is no provocation there is no reaction. The guilty person is the one who provokes.”
‘If I reacted that way, it is because something bad happened. Do you really believe that 10 minutes before the end of my career I would be able to make such a bad gesture? The provocation was very serious.”
“There was no tension with Materazzi before or during the match.”
“He just put his hand on to my shirt and I told him to stop. I told him that if he wanted it I could give it to him at the end of the match.”
“Then he said very harsh words to me and repeated them several times. I left but then I went back towards him and things went very fast.”
“The words he said concerned my mother and sister.”
“I heard them once, then twice, and the third time I couldn’t control myself. I am a man and some words are harder to hear than actions.”
“I would have rather been knocked down than hear that.”
“Afterwards I explained to the referee that I had been provoked, but my behaviour is not forgivable.”
“I reacted badly and I would like to apologise for it.”
“I would like to apologise because a lot of children were watching the match. I do apologise but I don’t regret my behaviour because regretting it would mean he was right to say what he said.”
“This is a decision I have made and I will not go back on it. This is definite. I will not play again.”
What Materazzi Said
“I didn’t mention anything about religion, politics or racism.”
“I didn’t insult his mother. I lost my mother when I was 15 years old and still get emotional when I talk about it.”
“Naturally, I didn’t know that his mother was in hospital but I wish her all the best.”
“Zidane is my hero and I have always admired him a lot.”
Now what? No racist comments apparently, so Materazzi will not be hounded for a ban because of it. However, what Zidane has done is bring attention to the sort of banter that is part of football – disgraceful, but still a part of it.
I hope that this makes football more civilised, but doesn’t take out the passion and anger that make football more than just a game. Materazzi, if Zidane is telling the truth, should be made Rooney’s stomping grounds for a few days.
But Zizou…if someone says something bad, have the sense to wait till the match is over before reacting. You did well in proving your manhood, but mate, you blew it.
Topics: General Football News, World Cup
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Here’s what Materazzi said: judge for yourself. For my money, he’s GOTTA be kidding me.
I didn’t say anything to him about racism, religion or politics,” Materazzi told the Gazzetta. “I didn’t talk about his mother either. I lost my mother when I was 15 and even now I still get emotional talking about her. Naturally, I didn’t know his (mother) was in the hospital, I give her my best wishes.”
“He’s always been my hero, I admire him a lot.”
HERO? :O
July 13th, 2006 @ 00:59Hum…Who to believe, the man named “best soccer player of last 10 years” by the king Pele, or someone called “the Butcher” by his own teammates/country ? me ponders…
July 13th, 2006 @ 21:21I still can not belive wat Zidane Did!
July 15th, 2006 @ 00:56there are a huge majority of people in the world who do not know how it feels like to be the victim of racism. Take michael jordan for example, he is almost god like on the basketball court, and u still have ppl calling him “ni**er”. Zizou was attacked with a very rude racial comment and not to mention it was aimed at him and his algerian family. theres only so much a man can take. Zizou’s act was very practical and rational. it was not out of madness. Id happily swing Materazzi’s head open if those racial comments were aimed at me.
July 15th, 2006 @ 10:09Materazzi got what was coming to him. He obviously said something to provoke him because Zidane looked back when he was joggin away. My only dissapointment was that Zidane hadnt kicked that italian’s ass even more.
July 15th, 2006 @ 23:15i say screw materazzi, because even after zidane was taken out of the game, our Les Bleus hero is still better liked, more respected, and more idolized than the italian player. materazzi is a bad sportsman to say the least, and if he is not man enough to admit the truth, he doesn’t deserve the chance to play in another international match. what he DID deserve was a nice hard head butt in the chest, or worse. zizou will be remembered fondly by all of his fans. he can’t be blamed for reacting in such a way, after all the things he was going through. sure, its dissapointing, but it’s life. things happen and i am more than willing to forget about his mistake and remember him for the amazing player he is and was. VIVE LA FRANCE, VIVE ZIZOU, ALLEZ LES BLEUS! (can’t wait till 2010 s. africa)
July 18th, 2006 @ 12:28so basically you’re saying that we should forgive him for assaulting players because he was provoked by a bad person who said bad things?
I’m not against what you’re saying, but I want to make sure that you understand what the implications are.
For everyone who says that Zidane was right to headbutt Materazzi, you are also condoning violence for verbal insults. In other words, you are saying that if someone passes a racist comment against you (or if you’re really sensitive, calls you fat), you have the right to retaliate physically.
Not only will that land us in trouble with the law, but it will also raise philosophical and legal arguments that paralyse our minds.
So please – don’t be blinded by your love for Zidane (or your hatred for Materazzi). Think rationally. If Materazzi did something wrong then Zidane was wrong as well. How do you forgive Zidane for physical assault but not Materazzi for a verbal assault?
July 18th, 2006 @ 12:35it wasnt the only head butt in that game if my memory serves me !!
September 5th, 2006 @ 04:43what other headbutt?
April 21st, 2007 @ 18:27Zidane did what was right. It is unbelievable that anybody would say any different. Think about it he was on his way out anyway and somebody said somthing harsh about him so he went past words into the physical. Not only will Zidane be remembered now for his incredible soccer playing but also for the fact that he was willing to meet the challenges of others that consisted of a world outside of sports. Honestly I wish that I could say that I had the nuts to do what Zidane did in such an internationaly viewed spectical, but the fact is that I and a huge amount of the population that saw the game would not have the courage to stand up for his own rights in the same situation.
February 14th, 2008 @ 09:07In other words, when Voller insulted Rijkaardt and Rijkaardt retalliated by spitting in Voeller’s face, he was also right?
February 15th, 2008 @ 07:51I mean, in your words, he had the courage to stand up to Voller unlike the huge amount of the population that saw that game.
Come to think of it, with the stuff that Rijkaardt had to go through before that worldcup (their team was in chaos before the tournament – as usual for the Dutch before a major tournament), it would have been more fair and also acceptable if Rijkaardt took out his dick and pissed all over Voller on live international television.
Still love Rijkaardt though and think he was an exceptional player, and is a good coach. But, have to admit, that was a blemish on his career, and NOT a good example to have set.
February 15th, 2008 @ 07:53The other story was that their was a rumour about zizou in the late 1990s.And that some disgusting,and really unpleasent business had taken place in turin italy when zidane was playing for Juventus.
August 23rd, 2010 @ 15:59Marchelo Lippi was the manager of juve at the time,and apparently Lippi said to matterazzi.”if you get the chance say this to zidane and see what his reaction will be”…..And we did see the reaction.
Still.Zizou should of waited after the match was over.gone up to matterazzi to shake his hand,and then nut him in the chest.