MILAN, Italy - Marco Materazzi admits he insulted Zinedine Zidane before the
France captain head-butted him in the World Cup final. Materazzi denies calling
him a "terrorist."
French soccer team
captain Zinedine Zidane leaves the Elysee Palace in Paris, after a
reception for the national team, Monday, July 10, 2006. Zidane received a
red card in the soccer World Cup final in Berlin, Germany, after
head-butting Italy defender Marco Materazzi in the chest. The match marked
Zidane's retirement from soccer. [AP] |
"I did insult him, it's true," Materazzi said in Tuesday's Gazzetta dello
Sport. "But I categorically did not call him a terrorist. I'm not cultured and I
don't even know what an Islamic terrorist is."
Zidane and Materazzi exchanged words after Italy broke up a French attack in
extra-time of Sunday's final in Berlin. Seconds later, Zidane lowered his head
and rammed Materazzi in the chest, knocking him to the ground.
Zidane was sent off, reducing France to 10 men. Italy won the game in a
penalty shootout.
"I held his shirt for a few seconds only, then he turned round and spoke to
me, sneering," the Italian defender said. "He looked me up and down, arrogantly
and said: 'If you really want my shirt, I'll give it to you afterwards.'"
The 32-year-old Inter Milan player did not elaborate exactly on what he said
to Zidane.
"It was one of those insults you're told tens of times and that always fly
around the pitch," he said.
Media reports, based on interpretations by lip-readers, have suggested that
Materazzi called Zidane a terrorist or insulted his mother or sister. Materazzi
denies these claims, too.
"For me, the mother is sacred, you know that," Materazzi told the newspaper.
Materazzi is no stranger to controversy. He was suspended for two months for
punching Siena defender Bruno Cirillo after a Serie A game in February 2004, and
earned condemnation following a brutal tackle on Sweden and Juventus striker
Zlatan Ibrahimovic in October 2005.
Materazzi was also sent off three times while playing for Everton in the
1998-99 season.
One Italian senator even suggested that Materazzi — also sent off three times
while playing for Everton in the 1998-99 season — didn't merit selection for the
Italian team because of his physical style.
