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.
""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, thats 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.
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