Posted on 07/11/2006 10:25:59 AM PDT by Abathar
MILAN, Italy -- Marco Materazzi acknowledged he insulted Zinedine Zidane before the French captain head-butted him in the World Cup final, but repeated his denial that he called Zidane a "terrorist."
"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."
A Paris-based anti-racism group issued a statement Monday saying Materazzi had called Zidane, whose parents emigrated to France from Algeria, a "dirty terrorist."
Zidane and Materazzi exchanged words 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 ejected from the match.
"I held his shirt for a few seconds only, then he turned round and spoke to me, sneering," the Italian defender told the newspaper. "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 on exactly 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.
Also Tuesday, Algeria's president defended Zidane and said soccer fans shouldn't condemn the French star.
"We are just human beings, our duty is not to judge, our duty is to understand," Abdelaziz Bouteflika said in London after meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
LOL Excuse of the year!
Yikes. Pegged the BS meter with that one.
Sticks & Stones... LOL
For someone who took the word "terrorist" as such an insult - he sure did act like one...
Muslim. Blows-up women and children. Wants to kill all the world's Jews. Believes the world should be enslaved under Islam and dragged back to the 12th century. Any questions?
I'm rubber, you're glue. Anything you say bounces off me and sticks on to you.
World Cup aftermath ping.
whatever he said was probably mild by nfl or nba standards..IMHO the italian did exactly what he wanted to do which was bait the opposing teams number 1 penalty kicker in case it came down to that, which it did..
Probably something about Zidane's mama and goats.
Materazzi ain't no Maserati...
Europeans have little skill in assimilation/integration. Zidane is a Frenchman, not an Algerian. How come the Algerian president is making a comment about a foreign soccer athlete? (rhetorical).
Well terrorist or not, the guy was a total idiot for doing what he did. The Italian guy tried a strategy and it worked. Good for the old country of my heritage and tough luck for good old France.
I was half expecting the French team to surrender just on general principals anyway. But I got an unexpected bonus; another middle eastern moron making a total jackass out of himself in front of a global audience.
Viva Italia! Life is good.
I heard on the news this morning it was something along the lines of son of a terrorist ho.
I love how the press is spinning it so that the guy who committed the assault is the victim.
It was an impressive feat, actually. Trash talk is supposed to take a guy's head out of the game. Materazzi found a way to use Zidane's head to get the rest of his body out of the game.
Either:
A. He's a liar
B. He really did deserve the headbutt.
"I categorically did not call him a terrorist."
Just called his mother a terrorist. That's different.
I read on some message board (and of course this is rumor) that M. told Z. he wanted his wife's shirt later.
Algeria [N. Africa] is not the middle east.
Materazzi is a low-life scum.
I feel bad for Zizou. His pinky alone is worth more than entire Italian team of tattoed thugs.
FIFA's "anti-racism" stance is as big a joke as the World Cup refereeing.
""I'm not cultured and I don't even know what an Islamic terrorist is.""
"LOL Excuse of the year!"
Not hard to believe for an entertainer, whether sports or Hollywood.
Ahhh, yer ma wears army boots!
LOL! Poor little baby.
I'm not cultured and I don't even know what an Islamic terrorist is.
Boy, that’s a homerun!
Like a sarcastic self-deprecating mafioso on the witness stand, plus a nice dig at the supposed French “sophistication.”
And he's got the World Cup and Frenchie's got stugots.
ok but viva italia, world cup champs
There is no right to act like a billy goat on a soccer World Cup final.
Zidane deserved his red card.
Zidane is a citizen of France and a citizen of Algeria.
Another report had a more detailed account of what they think he said. They think that in addition to be called "the son of filthy terrorists" that the Italian indicated that Zidane had sex with his sister.
It was a Class I insult, absolutely awesome.
Unless of course, you Islamofascists have a Christian or Jew tied up and helpless, and then you cowards will saw his/her head off.
He may be but you should take the time to look up his statement after the 1998 World Cup win. It was telling as to how he feels about being a French citizen.
F him. He's French. They are used to it.
I'm very sorry. Did I call you a "dirty terrorist"?
I apologize. I meant to call you a "dirty pig-faced dog-butt ugly Moose-slime terrorist".
Feel better now?
Materazzi is a low-life scum.
I feel bad for Zizou. His pinky alone is worth more than entire Italian team of tattoed thugs.
FIFA's "anti-racism" stance is as big a joke as the World Cup refereeing.
Are you serious? Italians are number one and you are jealous apparently. Sorry you little French didn't win. Maybe if they played a better game of soccor they would have. Get a life or something. Yes, I am in Italy as we speak!!!
"But in Europe where the PC police runs rampant insensitive comments are akin to murder."
Maybe in a public forum, but in private you hear much, much worse than in the US. Everyone knows this goes on and denying it was ever said is just like saying it again with a wink and a nudge.
"I feel bad for Zizou. "
Why?
Zidane is a muslim. Zidane acted out, for selfish reasons, in a way that cost his team. muslims are violent. Zidane is violent, and he proved it on a world stage.
These lib types they say this cr-p, but when it comes to action they are the biggest fascists and fanatics--stopping at nothing to hurt the ones they judge and will never lift one pinkie to understand.
God judged; Jesus hated the sin. This manufactured BS is manmade hooey. Practice what you preach their brother. T'ain't he judging the judgers? Hypocrite.
Refresh my memory.
Rush Limbaugh always looks at any football matchup based on the political correctness of the teams' mascots rather than any strategy or skills of the teams.
And under the global media complex, this is always winning play.
Here.
As the son of two Algerian immigrants, the 34-year-old is proud of his North African roots, dedicating France’s 1998 World Cup win to “all Algerians who are proud of their flag and all those who have made sacrifices for their family but who have never abandoned their own culture”
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,28783-2263995,00.html
If you mean 12th century BC, then you are correct. Muslims haven't made it to the 12th century AD, yet.
Thank you. That's instructive.
With U.S. out, I was rooting for Argentina - by far the most talented team with the most attractive game.
Italy played outstanding football (or, as you call it, "soccor") at this WC overall, especially against Germany.
They were dead, however, at the end of the extra time in the final, and obviously resorted to desperate tactics, which makes them truly pathetic, just like that faked PK against Australia.
Half of them belong in jail anyway. Let's see if winning the championship can help cut their sententences.
lol. Ok either one of us will win this one so let's just agree to disagree. I don't have that big a fight in this one...
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