Cantona: Don't insult my mother!!
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.
If it was Zidane who insulted Mazerratti, and Mazerratti responded in kind, some FReepers would be rushing to defend Mazerratti for the same act they condemened.
Strike One - French
Strike Two - Muslim
Were any one else but the French team and a Muslim, these threads would look very different.
LOL Excuse of the year!
He probably thinks they are 'insurgents'! ;)
Nice catch!!
The game can get rough and does from time-to-time. Big Deal.
If either do not like it, take up synchronized swimming or something.
It's just a bunch of spoiled athletes, folks. Move on. Nothing to see ....
Cantona: Don't insult my mother!!
Nah. Some of the stuff that goes on among crowds and between players in European soccer matches you would never see in American sports in a million years.
Things like bananas being thrown on the field at black players, making monkey noises, and the displaying of the swastika. The tolerance for that sort of thing in America is nil.
Zidane has won more titles if you compare league & world cup
My buddies and I say worse stuff than this to each other on the golf course.
Wow. Maybe we should get some more inner-city kids on the US soccer team for 2010. They may not be able to play soccer as well as the current team, but if they "do the dozens" on the other team, they may not have to!
"Yo, Ronaldhino, yo momma so fat..."
}:-)4
well especially if that's from an italian guy.
Maybe we will see special insult trainers in soccer clubs and it would be nicknamed to materazz somebody.
Zidane's Next Team May Be NY Red Bulls
"Zidane, France's 34-year-old midfielder, has had a renaissance of sorts during the monthlong tournament in Germany. He had long said he would retire after the World Cup.
But there is a possibility he could soon join his compatriot Youri Djorkaeff in the midfield for the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer, according to several people involved in soccer in the New York area who were granted anonymity because of their unofficial relationship to the club.
Zidane's contract with Real Madrid has expired, and he would not cost M.L.S. a transfer fee. By contrast, Ronaldo, a Brazilian striker who was Zidane's teammate in Spain, was reportedly offered a 10-year, $120 million deal by the Red Bulls and could command a transfer fee of more than $50 million. Zidane, with his skill, tactical sense and field vision, could easily play several more years in a less stressful environment in the United States if he can be lured out of retirement by the Red Bulls."
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/09/sports/soccer/09redbulls.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
How many French League title did he win while playing for Cannes or Bordeaux? How many Serie A titles did he win while playing for Juventus? How many La Liga titles did he win in Spain while playing for Real Madrid? How many Champions League titles did he win while playing for these clubs? How many UEFA Cups, Eurpoean Super Cups, Intercontinental Cups? How many World Cups? How many times did he receive World Player of the Year? Soccer in the Olypics doesn't allow players like Zidane to play. Zidane retired and came back also. He seemed to be playing at a higher level than Jordan at his last retirement.
We can go on & on but it safe to say your mind is made up because you think basketball is the best sport. I would like to see ether of these two play a game of Rugby with the best, that's insane.
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