World Cup 2006 News
Zidane apologies for headbutt but does not regret it
Jul 12, 2006, 19:37 GMT
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Marco Materazzi - View Marco Materazzi Pictures - Marco Materazzi News
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Older Talkback
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What a jerk. He 'apologizes' but doesn't take back what he did? In other words, he condones violence for insulting words (and all his supporters are ok with that). This is his lasting example to 'the children' he is so concerned about in his apology. Zidane, you are a loser.
Who are you kidding? Of course he's gonna take it back and he is also not a jerk. The player who he headbutted called him a terrorist and his sister a prostitute, if that was me, I would done a lot more then headbutt him. I say all the power in the world to him
Zidane is right, He is not a machine to play football and tolerate anything the law is careless about! He is so much experienced and it was his inal match when half of the world were seeing him via TV, he did the right thing! We better learn! It was the lesson of this world cup!
He has every right to defend the honour of his family. This was probably a plot on the Italian side to make sure he would not get a penalty shot.
What? Zidane is a jerk? Tolerance is the thing they teach when you're in elementary so that the teachers can handle the kids wild behavior. Stand up and defend for yourself as a grown up. That's what he did and it's totally acceptable. He shouldn't apologize either. The broadcaster should. If they think it could be a harmful incident to children then stop replaying it on TV for God sake.
...i would expect nothing else from a greasy wop like you than the type of comments you made
by the way, i never called you a greasy wop
but even if i did, i am sure you would be ok with it.
by the way, i hear you are sleeping with your sister.
i never said that
Son of a terrorsit whore...Thats what he was called. I mean c'mon dude.
The only sad part is that he did not wait for the match to finish before head butting him. That way the useless rules on things like this in football would not have been able to touch him.
He did what he had to do. Zidame all da way baby!
Zidane is still our hero... he could've dived or faked an injury next time Materazzi came near him like most players did in the WC or tackled him really hard later...but the man has class and rather than a sneak attack he commited a manly act ...it is wrong to punish only one guy while letting the other way go...it says to them what you did was right...as someone wrote in Toronto Star today...It wasn't 'shameful' or 'an ugly end to a great career' or 'a shadow over the game' — all descriptions used recently. It was understandable, excusable and, in a bizarre way, admirable...coz everyonw knows Materrazi is not a baby he knew what he was doing...moreover he immediately knew what he did was wrong and did not complain when the card was shown and he has our respect for it.
The only player in the world, Zidane, who has got the real sports man spirit. But some things, need appropriate action, which he took. Well done Zidane you made all your fans proud, keep kicking those kind of jerks
The Freaking Italian player, I wonder how he would react if somebody did the same thing on the ground. Anyway, All the italian players are just pissed me off.Dirty, Dirty,dirty dirty dirty players in the world.
Honor has always held a high value in almost every culture. Zidane took the insults until his breaking point, which we all have. Granted the ref is usually not close enough to see and hear everything going on on the field, but as a human being one can only tolerate so much. Everyone will judge, when no one is really in the position to. I think I would have done the same. Italian strategy, maybe, but it definately was a loss for France and Zidane.
Where I come from it isn't against the law to call someone names but when you physically harm someone, it's called assault. What is wrong with you people who would condone such behavior?
Jack---did u not watch the game...? read the papers...do u think tht Zidane or ne 1 would really attack another player without being provoked? maybe if they were down by a goal---then maybe he might be guilty of frustration---but u could see the two of them talking---u could see zidane walk away---and the game was tied....so y else would some one attack a next player while the game is still going on? for no reason?---
he apologized bcuz of how is career ended....and how he appeared to others...but not for what he did...why should he? what would you do if someone made those comments to you? would you just walk away---or would you defend your family name?
Zidane is a great player and will be known as such. I agree the rules suck because if you buttons keep on getting pushed over & over again..there is only so much you can handle. It's not fair that one person gets punished and not the other. I think the Italian defender needs to be reprimanded as well. GO ZIZOU!!!!!!!!
There is no justification to use violence. I'm fairly shocked to see all these comments thinking it was the 'right thing' to do. Either the insult is a ploy to get him to react, or it is real, either way it's hard to hold any sort of moral respect for the person saying it. If you don't respect the person saying something, who cares what they are saying if you are the only person hearing it? The best 'reaction' would be to ignore it, or if you need to be a vindictive jackass, then go on to win the game and laugh at the loser. The morality of the world just seems to be getting lower and lower.
You got your jersey pulled, when you don't even have the ball, you reply by saying to the offendre that if he really wants the tee shirt, he could have it after the game and in response you get your mother and your sister insulted.
You walk away from the insult, then you are repeated this insult once and, again, once more.
He is sorry for what the effects it caused, having shocked so many viewers and especially shown this action to kids all over the world, but he does not want to say that he regrets it, as he would probably do it all over again, as he was deeply hurt by what he considered deep insults toward his mother & sister.
Behind the great professional that he is, there is still a man, that has human qualities above most other players, that is known for his generosity, that is very shy and that is extremely sensitive.
It is easier to critize him, (and to insult him...again) sitting in front of a TV, than being a cold blooded player that is able not to react to the worst kind of insults, after having played 110 minutes of an intense game.
When one decides to play soccer, his mother, sister , family or his honor are not fair game for the opponent (in Zidane's case the Mofia team let by the thug No. 23). Zidane actually exercised a lot of restrain in just head butting the loser who had no reason what-so-ever to attack the Superstar of the games. Zidane is a great individual and a fantastic soccer player. We will remember him for these. I also hope that 'Jack' would understand that playing ball for fun is not an open ticket for selling your honor. As Zidane put it, one can tolerate physical abuse in the course of the play but absoluately not insult to your honor. Viva Zidane!
Man if that was me i'd go UFC over Materazzi and probably stick the soccer up his butt.
Hey Jack you are a JACK ASS!!! Have you ever being insulted if not then you should. Maybe that will teach you to validate others actions. He did what I would of done to you if you'd call my family those horrible things....
Italians never a clean way to play the sport; they plundge, fake, rush to the referee to get a player expelled, try to get discreet help from their hand and I really believe that this action was a pre-conceived set up.
You should Google the name of the Italian player involved to have a better idea on him.
Zidane's action had a terrible impact on his image, 10 mns before his planned retirement and the result of the game, but it seems that what he heard repeatidely was more than he could humanely handle (after having played 110 mns of an intense game).
The first one to be sorry that such an action was done, especially in front of so many people, is Zidane himself. He is also the one that was most affected by the action that he felt he had to do (which certainly came more from his guts than his brains).
Players have been trash talking for a hundred years. There's always an a**hole like Materazzi on the field. Zidane should have shown more poise and validated the 'hero' tag that people shower on him by NOT reacting and getting Materazzi back by winning the World Cup.
It makes no difference what Zidane says or does. Many of his fans will love him and say he's the best no matter what. Why waste your time pointing out the obvious to them? It's sad that these fans condone violence, but it's not going to change. At least not until the violence is commited AGAINST someone they support, in which case it will be horrible and intolerable.
Zidane was justified in his action. Racism and Italians are intolerable.
I think Zidane was already angry at Materazzi when he tied the game with a headshot some minutes after Zidane's penalty kick. Zidane must be angry; his World Cup dream shortlived because Materazzi killed it early.
Zidane's frustration built up, no more goal after his 'lucky' penalty kick. I say that it was a lucky kick because the ball hit the upper bar then barely bounced inside the goal line.
In the end, it was Materazzi holding Zidane's shirt, no harm was done, but Zidane blasted him '... You want my shirt, I will give it to you after the game ...'
Materazzi retaliated with 'sister, mother' curse at Zidane. Then came the headbutt and the red card.
...
Beside Zidane's wild behavior, there's also something wrong about his teammates. They should be proud to be number 2 in world soccer but I saw the French players and even the coach taking off the medals from their neck to put them away right after they were awarded. They badly need a lesson in sportsmanship. Today, Zidane apologized to 'all the children' but his team behaved like children.
Zidane should learn sportmanship and keep in mind that
'Stick, Stone, and Headbutt can break bones but words should never hurt him.'
this is very bizarre for a player and captain like zidane to react like this in this event. This game was important for italian soccer with the scandal in serie a. This occurance and game was fixed. The italians had to win to cover up the illegal betting on games in that country.
To all the Zidane apologists: it is obvious you don't mind Zidane's use of violence to respond to words. I guess if Zidane would have killed the player, that would be ok too, if the words were insulting enough. Given that you all have not progressed beyond animal behavior, it is probably not worth arguing with you. But here's another piece of truth about your god, Zidane. This is not the first time he's acted violently. He practically crushed a Saudi player, and head butted others. What kind of an animal does such things? He's been red carded 14 times. This is your hero? Good, have your children worship this guy, and they can grow up to be animals too.
I have to agree with Jack. Zidane will be remembered for the rest of history as the man who lost the WC for France, and they will show the video over and over again. Just like Mike Tyson biting the ear of another boxer. And France will be known as the country that says, THIS IS OUR HERO, the person we want our children should act like. Yes, good. Just like animals.
Well done Zidane! I would do the same thing if was in your shoes. You have my support and admiration.
Israel didn't invade the Gaza Strip because Hamas took an Israeli prisoner or to stop Qassam rockets. They invaded Gaza because the Hamas PM called Ehud Olmert a son of a whore.
Watch the video clips of 'Marco Materazzi, No. 23' in his past soccer games to get a better feel for this 'Mofia player'. Here is the site adddress:
http://www.geekzone.co.nz/blog.asp?blogid=22&postid=820
He cannot hide.I think its in his head.Osama and all his supporters are proud of him.
If it was ok for Zidane to retaliate with force when his honor was attacked, then is it ok for a group of people to retaliate with force when their honor is attacked, or a country to retaliate with force when it's honor is attacked? I'm thinkimg that maybe some of you Zidane supportors would take a differnt view if (and I know that some of you never will) you carried out your logic to it's conclusions.
You know, maybe I do believe in evolution, because there are definately some of you who won't think and are on the lower end of the scale.
I cannot believe that all the comments I read are condoning violence. If this would have happened in the streets there would have been legal implications. Zidane, there was 10 minutes left and this is the legacy you left with - very disappointing. Razing opponents is part of the game... so what I'm a son of a terrorist and my sister's a prostitute... This incident is over shadowing the excellent match played not only by Zidane but, Thiery, Henry, Vieri and the rest of the team.
Zidane was correct in reminding the Mofia boy that insulting his mother and sister is NOT acceptable! When playing ball, one does not open the door for receiving insults. It simply is NOT OK. I play Soccer. I am prepared to get kicked and perhaps bloodied but NEVER ready to have anyone insult my mother. If it happens, I will be in no more playing mood and will immediately react to it. I wish that you folks out there who simply brush the Italian violation of the accepted and expected spirit of sportmanship under the carpet by calling it as 'something that normally happens' would stop the nonesense.
Some of us are not ready to have our mothers or sisters be called whores and prostitutes and just keep on playing ball. This is worse than physical harm.
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