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.
While I am a firm believer that soccer sucks the Big One I also believe the players are in tremendous physical shape.
"Yeah, but what explains fights in the NFL, NBA, MLB, NASCAR..."
No one thing. Trying to fuzzy it up a bit?
Some fights are heat of the battle, and generally harmless. Some are caused by angry men who just want to fight someone. Some are caused by stupid people.
But a muslim involved in a fight? About as unexpected as a dog chasing a cat.
Remember, not all muslims are terrorists, but most terrorists are muslim.
The only fuzz is in your head.
Remember, not all muslims are terrorists...
You should remember that part.
Oh dear.
Well I am happy you decided to surrender.
You have a good day, sir.
Wasn't the top pick in the NBA this last draft a European?
Maybe he can bring the headbutt to this side of the world.
Stupid excuse.
"You have tried to paint this guy as a terrorist because he is a Muslim."
No. A headbutt in a soccer game is not terrorism. This guy most likely is not a terrorist. It's possible, like many belonging to his death cult that he implicitly endores terrorism.
My point is, muslims are brought up in an aggressive, violent manner. Violence at the hands of a muslim should be no surprise to annyone.
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