[SkyPilot]

I was waiting for this. I knew there would be some sort of "I am Muslim and I am a victim" defense.

[satchmodog9]

Truth hurts?

[dfwgator]

Not to defend Zidane at all (he should have retaliated, but there were better times and ways to do it), but if the Italian called Zidane himself a 'terrorist', that's one thing. But he brought his mother into it. That's what we call "fighting words."

[GAB-1955]

Actually, that has been confirmed by Italian lip readers who passed what was said to the BBC. Zidane was also told to go "f himself." The Italian wished Zidane's mother, who is ill, "an ugly death."

It doesn't excuse the head-butting, but it's more than self-pity or Muslim victimhood. The Italian is a despicable man himself and I hope he ends up in Serie C1 with Jueventus.

[TheRealDBear]

Big effin' deal. Your average playground basketball game has worse taunts.

[Pox]

Oh boo hoo. Trash talk in professional sports has been around as long as professional sports.

He got suckered in to taking a cheap shot, and couldn't resist the temptation. Life is tough, and I can't seem to find a reason to care about his whining over his display of weakness.

[Mr. Jeeves]

Hey, the Iranian National Team could use a coach with motivational skills like Zidane's. ;)

[SkyPilot]

A clarification to my comment:

I don't think Zidane has given a statement yet as to what words were exchanged. The "son of a terrorist whore" translation came from the lip reader.

[MikefromOhio]

Although it does appear that this was actually said, Zidane should've kept his head. Smack about your mom especially with her being ill and all that aside, you can't allow the players of another team to get into your head given the situation. Just beat them on the scoreboard.

I mean, did you EVER hear of MIchael Jordan kneeing someone in the crotch because they talked about his dad or Joe Montana ear-holing someone after a play because they made fun of his 80s mullet?

Nope.

How very soccer of him.

[JerseyHighlander]

Yet they don't tell us in what language the alleged insult was hurled. Seems to be you know, the most damn critical piece of information here so others can independently verify the lip reading.

Italian, French, English?

[Cinnamon]

aside all specualtion.. he fudged up big time... it's like Mike Tyson bitting off that ear..

[worst-case scenario]

Zidane hasn't made that sort of self-aggrandizing defense. He hasn't said anything about what happened at all. The Times got a lipreader to figure out what the Italian must have said. From Wikipedia:

Since both players refused to comment on the incident, there are various allegations about what led to Zidane's violent outburst. His agent, Alain Migliaccio has claimed that a "very serious" comment by Materazzi provoked the attack.[7] Reportedly, the deaf forensic lip-reader Jessica Rees was employed to analyze the video sequences with the help of an Italian translator. According to these reports, Materazzi spoke in Italian - a language understood by Zidane due to his time spent with Juventus F.C. - and first told him: "Hold on, wait, that one's not for a nigger like you." As the players walked forward, Materazzi allegedly said: "We all know you are the son of a terrorist whore." Then, just before the headbutt, he was seen saying: "So just fuck off."

You can think less of him for losing his temper, but it's not fair to claim that he is crying victimhood.

[YaYa123]

The obvious question...what did Zidane say or do that would cause the Italian player to say such a thing?

[Diddle E. Squat]

I was waiting for this. I knew there would be some sort of "I am Muslim and I am a victim" defense.

What a stupid comment on your part.

[hermgem]

Quite obviously this perfectly coordinated and executed back flip along with Materazzi's agonizing and writhing in severe pain on the turf was executed to perfection.
The primary objective:
Have the oppositions best player ejected.

[RJL]

After an exhaustive study of the match video, and with the help of an Italian translator, Rees claimed that Materazzi called Zidane “the son of a terrorist whore” before adding “so just f*** off” for good measure, supporting the natural assumption that the Frenchman must have been grievously insulted.

What did their "exhaustive study of the match video" show about the trash talk Zidane was spewing?

[SamAdams76]

What is all this fuss about a silly soccer game? Can't wait for football season.

[freedumb2003]

Boo Hoo Boo Hoo!

This wimp wouldn't last 5 seconds in an NBA game.

I guess the standard World Soccer diving lessons include other girlie-man lessons as well.

[LdSentinal]

The strange thing is why head-butt him? Why not punch him in the face?

[toru watanabe]

Zidane's reaction was inappropriate, but I'd probably do the same if called that. Too bad he ended up hurting his team.

[Cinnamon]

probably the impending loss drove him over the edge.