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The Zidane mystery: what set him off?
Associated Press ^ | 07/10/2006 | Associated Press

Posted on 07/10/2006 1:28:36 PM PDT by Caravaggio

Berlin — Was it something he said?

With France and Italy tied in extra time of Sunday's World Cup final, Zinedine Zidane head-butted Marco Materazzi in the chest and was ejected. France went on to lose on penalty kicks.

The day after, still no one knew what the Italian defender might have said to the French star.

"The Italians did everything they could do to provoke Zidane," France defender William Gallas said.

Seconds before, Materazzi had grabbed a handful of Zidane's jersey just as a French attack on goal passed harmlessly by. The two exchanged words as they walked back up the field, well behind the play. Then, without warning, Zidane spun around, lowered his head and rammed Materazzi, knocking him to the ground.

The Paris-based anti-racism advocacy group SOS-Racism issued a statement Monday quoting "several very well informed sources from the world of football" as saying Materazzi called Zidane a "dirty terrorist." It demanded that FIFA, soccer's world governing body, investigate and take any appropriate action.

FIFA, which reviews all red cards at the World Cup, would not comment on the specifics.

"This is a disciplinary matter now. I can't give any statements now," FIFA spokesman Markus Siegler said.

Materazzi, meanwhile, was quoted as denying the terrorist comment

"It is absolutely not true, I didn't call him a terrorist, I don't know anything about that," the Italian news agency ANSA quoted Materazzi as saying when he arrived with his team at an Italian military airfield.

"What happened is what all the world saw live on TV," the Italian player said, referring to the head-butting.

Zidane's agent, Alain Migliaccio, was quoted by the BCC as saying the France captain told him the Italian "said something very serious to him, but he wouldn't tell me what."

Whatever it was, it was enough to infuriate Zidane.

(Excerpt)


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Hobbies; Miscellaneous; Sports
KEYWORDS: 1billionwatching; 1sport; copamundial; fussball; futbol; soccer; worldcup; zidane

1 posted on 07/10/2006 1:28:39 PM PDT by Caravaggio
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To: Caravaggio

The Mike Tyson of soccer?


2 posted on 07/10/2006 1:31:21 PM PDT by TexasCajun
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To: Caravaggio
I think what was probably most offensive to Zidane is when the Italian defender told him: "You are a 'star' in a sport where there is almost no offense, not much defense, and where a 1-0 ending after 90 to 120 minutes of play is considered 'exciting'"

"You are the equivalent of the most exciting blade of grass that one could watch grow, or the quickest to dry of a section of a painted wall that a person could be made to watch dry, or the least dull of the most dull thing to be forced to observe."

"On top of all of that, you are a 'less-than-completely-French' person on a team representing a country that has defeatism as a natural character. I fart in your general direction. Leave me or I will taunt you another time!"

3 posted on 07/10/2006 1:37:14 PM PDT by keithtoo (The GOP is fortunate that the Dim's are even more spineless and disorganized.)
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To: Caravaggio
The Paris-based anti-racism advocacy group SOS-Racism issued a statement Monday quoting "several very well informed sources from the world of football" as saying Materazzi called Zidane a "dirty terrorist."

If that were the case, the ref could have given him a green, blue, yellow, orange OR red card.

4 posted on 07/10/2006 1:39:01 PM PDT by dirtboy (When Bush is on the same side as Ted the Swimmer on an issue, you know he's up to no good...)
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To: Caravaggio
This guy wouldn't have made it thru a High-school football summer 2-a-days.

Comments about your mother and sister make 'dirty terrorist' seem like a kiss on the cheek.

That's just good strategy. Esp if you have a hothead star you can "get to". Not just to make him do something like this -- but to get under his skin, to throw his game off.

5 posted on 07/10/2006 1:47:14 PM PDT by Dominic Harr (Conservative = Careful, as in 'Conservative with money')
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To: Caravaggio

Now if Materazzi had called Zidane a "Frenchman," then the attack would have been completely justified. :)


6 posted on 07/10/2006 1:49:07 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Caravaggio
Materazzi called Zidane a "dirty terrorist."

Did he say it in English so they both could understand it?

7 posted on 07/10/2006 1:54:34 PM PDT by Defiant (MSM are holding us hostage. Vote Dems into power, or they will let the terrorists win.)
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To: dirtboy

So a "terrorist" is now a "race" in France.


8 posted on 07/10/2006 2:00:45 PM PDT by laissez- faire (Play Like A Champion Today)
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To: Caravaggio
Video-Ouch!
9 posted on 07/10/2006 2:10:17 PM PDT by MotleyGirl70
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To: Dominic Harr

Somehow I don't see the connection to high school 2 a day football practices and Zidane.


10 posted on 07/10/2006 2:33:55 PM PDT by KC_Conspirator
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To: Caravaggio

It doesn't matter what was said.

There is no excuse for what he did.


11 posted on 07/10/2006 2:36:26 PM PDT by soccer_maniac (Fine employers $100,000 for every illegal employee they hire-> millions of illegals will self-deport)
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To: dfwgator

video clip

It's hard to fit 100,000 troops on a single aircraft carrier.


12 posted on 07/10/2006 2:37:24 PM PDT by soccer_maniac (Fine employers $100,000 for every illegal employee they hire-> millions of illegals will self-deport)
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To: Caravaggio

Zidane is no more a moslem than I am. He is 3rd generation French.

The Italian (Materazzi) has a woefull reputation for dirty play. He called Zidanes mother a nigger prostitute and wished her an early death. Zidanes mother has been taken into hospital that morning.

Whilst what he did was stupid I ask anyone here how they would have reacted under the same provocation


13 posted on 07/10/2006 2:50:40 PM PDT by weegie
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To: Caravaggio
I'm sure Frenchie's got an image consulting firm conducting focus groups right now, to find out what combination of insults will garner him the most sympathy from the French people so as to preserve some marketability for him. Then he'll claim that's what the Italian guy said before he headbutted him.

Look for something involving race, his mother, and a besmirching of the glory that is France.

14 posted on 07/10/2006 2:55:49 PM PDT by dead (I've got my eye out for Mullah Omar.)
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To: weegie

2nd lipreader now reporting that his mother was called a terrorist whore


15 posted on 07/10/2006 3:01:47 PM PDT by weegie
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To: Caravaggio
I've been told by people who recorded the game that Materazzi gave Zidane a hard pinch on his nipple when he grabbed the shirt.
True or not...dunno. But it would put me in a head buttin' mood.
16 posted on 07/10/2006 3:04:48 PM PDT by Bloody Sam Roberts (,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸Ooooh...I think I over-medicated¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸)
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To: Caravaggio

Yep. Just watched the video and that's what it looks like. The Italian had his hand in a sensitive area and Zidane got p!$$3d .


17 posted on 07/10/2006 3:08:29 PM PDT by Bloody Sam Roberts (,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸Ooooh...I think I over-medicated¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸)
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To: MotleyGirl70

Another "Break" fan.

http://tonaz.altervista.org/zidane.html

use the mouse to control Zidane


18 posted on 07/10/2006 3:16:00 PM PDT by laissez- faire (Play Like A Champion Today)
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To: Bloody Sam Roberts

And virtually threw away the WORLD CUP with his actions....makes no sense.


19 posted on 07/10/2006 3:26:23 PM PDT by alisasny (Cynthia McKinny..INTERNATIONAL BLACK FEMALE CONGRESSPERSON OF MYSTERY)
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To: alisasny
And virtually threw away the WORLD CUP with his actions....makes no sense.

Yep. Even if my theory is correct...it's still hard to fathom considering all that was on the line.

20 posted on 07/10/2006 3:57:40 PM PDT by Bloody Sam Roberts (,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸Ooooh...I think I over-medicated¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸)
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To: Bloody Sam Roberts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6o2UDltZ4vk

You can see Materazzi's grab in this clip.

Real classy if the guy was talking smack about Zidane's mamma in the hospital.

21 posted on 07/10/2006 4:09:02 PM PDT by stainlessbanner
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To: TexasCajun

a frenchman attacking something?


22 posted on 07/10/2006 4:11:02 PM PDT by jw777
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To: weegie
The Italian (Materazzi) has a woefull reputation for dirty play. He called Zidanes mother a nigger prostitute and wished her an early death. Zidanes mother has been taken into hospital that morning.

Whilst what he did was stupid I ask anyone here how they would have reacted under the same provocation?

You finish the game, play hard, and drop the guy like a bad habit after the final whistle.

23 posted on 07/10/2006 5:45:24 PM PDT by Tallguy (When it's a bet between reality and delusion, bet on reality -- Mark Steyn)
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To: laissez- faire

That's awesome! I'm going to play that all day in the office.


24 posted on 07/10/2006 6:29:23 PM PDT by blueminnesota
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To: Caravaggio
what set him off?

He's a punk.

25 posted on 07/10/2006 8:15:14 PM PDT by ncountylee (Dead terrorists smell like victory)
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To: Caravaggio
What set him off?

Maybe the realization hit him...he's a thirty-odd year old "man," who wasted his youth playing a game normally reserved for pre-teenage kids.

26 posted on 07/10/2006 8:27:35 PM PDT by JRios1968 (There's 3 kinds of people in this world...those who know math and those who don't.)
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To: laissez- faire
Another "Break" fan.

You bet.

There's a tennis game I was addicted to during the fortnight of Wimbledon.

"Break" cleaned up the sight so I can now post links here if I want or send them to family and friends without all the smutty advertisements/personals on the sidebars.

27 posted on 07/10/2006 10:19:50 PM PDT by MotleyGirl70
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To: JRios1968

And became one of the planets wealthiest and most famous atheletes in the process.

nope that aint it


28 posted on 07/10/2006 11:52:26 PM PDT by weegie
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To: weegie
And became one of the planets wealthiest and most famous atheletes in the process.

How did he manage to become

one of these guys? And these are just a small sample of guys richer and more famous... Either way, it's amazing!

29 posted on 07/11/2006 6:12:15 AM PDT by JRios1968 (There's 3 kinds of people in this world...those who know math and those who don't.)
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To: JRios1968

With the exception of Jordan I have no idea who any of them are and I only know him because it says so on the vack of his shirt.


Richer? possibly but not by much.
More globally famous? not even close


30 posted on 07/11/2006 7:05:48 AM PDT by weegie
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To: weegie
With the exception of Jordan I have no idea who any of them are and I only know him because it says so on the vack of his shirt.

Richer? possibly but not by much. More globally famous? not even close

Salary-wise Alex Rodriguez (the baseball player pictured in sunglasses) is one rich fellow. Last I heard, he was the highest paid team sport player in the world, including soccer. And while American football doesn't have much worldwide following, I wouldn't underestimate the fame of baseball players internationally. Baseball is not a worldwide game to the extent soccer is, but it's not the single country sport many of its baseball-igorant detractors think it is.

31 posted on 07/11/2006 11:29:20 AM PDT by Colonel Kangaroo
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To: Colonel Kangaroo
No offence intended Colonel. I actually like baseball. Fell in love with it over many trips over the pond.
I am also prepared to accept that Alex Rodriguez is the highest paid. once you get to a couple of hundred grand a week I don't guess that a few tens of percentage points make that much difference.

As for fame. Sorry mate, but Zidane would be instantly recognisable amongst 60% of males between 16 and 60 throughout Europe, Sth America, S. E. Asia, The Middle East and The urban parts of Africa. the only places the man could get peace would be Australia and New Zealand (Rugby), India and Pakistan (Cricket) and Nth America.
32 posted on 07/11/2006 12:16:30 PM PDT by weegie
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To: JRios1968

Wasted? It cost 73 million Euros for Real Madrid to get him.


33 posted on 07/11/2006 12:21:00 PM PDT by Tspud1
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To: JRios1968

Cetainly NOT more famous, maybe in your corner of the world


34 posted on 07/11/2006 12:22:19 PM PDT by Tspud1
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To: weegie
With the exception of Jordan I have no idea who any of them are and I only know him because it says so on the vack of his shirt.

Then I feel sorry for you and your totally isolated life. How do you manage with the Internet?

35 posted on 07/11/2006 4:41:19 PM PDT by JRios1968 (There's 3 kinds of people in this world...those who know math and those who don't.)
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To: Tspud1

And that was a waste of money...funny money, true, but a waste nonetheless.

Of course, I was talking about the IslamoFrog wasting his life playing a kids' game, but why should we let that tiny difference bother you?


36 posted on 07/11/2006 4:42:44 PM PDT by JRios1968 (There's 3 kinds of people in this world...those who know math and those who don't.)
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To: JRios1968
Isolated?

Not at all.

With the exception of a few visits to Yankee Stadium when in NY, I have no interest whatsoever in American sport.
Football however (as opposed to "gridiron"), now thats a different thing.
37 posted on 07/12/2006 1:37:18 AM PDT by weegie
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To: JRios1968
Isolated?

Not at all.

With the exception of a few visits to Yankee Stadium when in NY, I have no interest whatsoever in American sport.
Football however (as opposed to "gridiron"), now thats a different thing.
38 posted on 07/12/2006 1:37:24 AM PDT by weegie
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To: JRios1968

I guess you are right because you say it's a waste. Why don't you run for office since your ideas must be right because you thought them.


39 posted on 07/12/2006 6:19:34 AM PDT by Tspud1
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To: Tspud1
Why don't you run for office since your ideas must be right because you thought them.

I would never get elected. I would bring no-nonsense solutions, and that's something a lot of voters don't want.

First solution would be to eliminate succer.

40 posted on 07/12/2006 7:14:54 AM PDT by JRios1968 (There's 3 kinds of people in this world...those who know math and those who don't.)
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To: JRios1968

I don't like cheeseburgers so they must not be good for others either.
That's your logic


41 posted on 07/12/2006 7:36:10 AM PDT by Tspud1
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To: Tspud1

Arguing with you is like arguing with my 3-year old child.


Except my 3-year old child is expected to make that kind of comment...


42 posted on 07/12/2006 7:55:18 AM PDT by JRios1968 (There's 3 kinds of people in this world...those who know math and those who don't.)
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To: JRios1968

Then let's just agree to disagree on this. You are entitled to your opinion


43 posted on 07/12/2006 9:29:33 AM PDT by Tspud1
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To: Tspud1

I applaud you for finally saying something that made sense.


44 posted on 07/12/2006 5:11:20 PM PDT by JRios1968 (There's 3 kinds of people in this world...those who know math and those who don't.)
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To: Caravaggio
The Zidane mystery: what set him off?

He's just a prick?
45 posted on 07/12/2006 5:15:57 PM PDT by aruanan
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