Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

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
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-45 next last
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
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: TexasCajun

a frenchman attacking something?


22 posted on 07/10/2006 4:11:02 PM PDT by jw777
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

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)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

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
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

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)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

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.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

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
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

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
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

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.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

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
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

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
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

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
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

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
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

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
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

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.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

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.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

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
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

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
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

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
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

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.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-45 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson