World Cup 2006

FIFA opens disciplinary proceedings against Marco Materazzi

World Cup 2006 News

Jul 13, 2006, 16:01 GMT


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PateJul 13th, 2006 - 17:12:56

One years suspension to Materazzi should do it.

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LisbethJul 13th, 2006 - 17:18:28

FIFA should send a message that nipple twisting does not belong to sports and footbaal.

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BenJul 13th, 2006 - 17:36:20

The Italians showed that they are masters in the art of dirty tricks to slow or stall opponents. Zidane was tackled, grabed, and harassed throughout the game. Frankly, I do not blame him for nailing Materazzi. The Italian should be suspended for one year for verbal provocation and abuse.

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ROCCUOJul 13th, 2006 - 17:45:43

We 're the world champions, shut up!!!

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JackJul 13th, 2006 - 18:10:58

This is incredibly stupid. Zidane can say whatever he wants and accuse Materazzi of anything. You can trot out lip readers all you want (they have all said different things anyway). The only plain unequivocal evidence is that Zidane did physical violence against Materazzi. For this he should be stripped of his 'best player' award. Is this how a best player acts? School children know better than to hit someone if they are called a name. Zidane acted like an animal (which all the world saw with their own eyes - no reliance on who said what), and anyone who defends him should be ashamed. In fact, he is a coward, because when you watch the video, it is evident he saw the ball was in another part of the field and thought no one was looking, and even caught Materazzi off guard. If he was 'defending his mother' of whatever excuse you can come up with, he would have made certain Materazzi was aware of his move. It was a cowardly act.

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ciaoTebaldiJul 13th, 2006 - 18:15:44

Wah-wah-wah cried the French (as usual).
They take defeat so well! They're used to it!
Meanwhile, 'Z', if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen!
You wouldn't last 3 minutes in the NBA.

FIFA! If you're going to look at a fraction of the game, perhaps you should
check the entire, game or series!
You wouldn't last 3 minutes in the NBA!

Play Soccer (European Football). Stop crying! You're all embarasing yourselves!
ciao!

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PujaJul 13th, 2006 - 18:38:15

I didn't knew verbal harashment is part of sports.....if headbutting is a criminal offence so is verbal accusation.......for me person who tolerates harashment is equally guilt as the person who harashes........and Zizou didn't do anything which will prove him guilty.....ofcourse an experienced player like him will not headbutt his co-player without any reason.......even television footage showed he was provoked.....I hope FIFA punishes Materazzi.......if they don't then GOD will definitely do....'God sees the truth but waits.'

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AkJul 13th, 2006 - 18:52:58

I believe the Italian player did and said what Zidane accused him of doing,he should be given at least 2 years suspension,to send a strong message to other facists and racists in Italy and Spain who are against players of Africaor arab origin

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MasterazziSucksJul 13th, 2006 - 19:13:38

Marco Materazzi FULLY deserved the headbutting, and in my opinion that's not even enough. For how dirty he plays, the fool should be suspended forever, or get shot, either one should do. If I were Zidane, I would have probably kicked in the balls the same way he kicks others, what a moron!!

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Xing ChenJul 13th, 2006 - 19:34:17

Mazi's dirty and disgusting hand actions shouldn't be ignored!

Before Zizou's headbutt, a signiture statement for the defense of human dignity and racial equality, in addition to his extremely serious verbal provocation, dirty Mazi also used his dirty hands did some dirty and disgusting things to Zizou, which are very provoking. A mere replay can easily reveal this.

One point I'd like to make emphatically here is: players as well as fans are frist and foremost human beings, when Zizou headbutted that dirty clown from Italy, he was actually and clearly defending huamn diginity and racial equality, and at that very moment, what happened was beyond football---football must yield to higher principles when human dignity and racial equality are on the line.

Another note on Italy's so called champion. Everyone with sound eyes and willing to see knows Italy was awarded a PK which was caused by Italian player's faked fall and was referee's misjudgement or even a gift from his partiality during Australia-Italy game. Without the free PK, Italy would most likely be sent home. Italy a world champion? My foot! The cheated championship for game-fixing-infamous Italy is but lasting shame talked about around the world forever.

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fair footballJul 13th, 2006 - 20:12:38

ashame on metarazzi and italy. Fifa should revoke their wourld cup and give it to franace. That was very well thought by Italians. If Zidane was not harrased, France would have won the world cup with no question about it. Ashame on Italy!

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AudraJul 13th, 2006 - 23:15:53

Materazzi and the rest of the italian team knew they are loosing to zidane and the rest of the french squad , thats why they started to taunt zidane. Matzi is discusting in how far he would go to get someone out. he was so damn dirty and cheap. deserves to give his gold midalion back and the cup for that matter.

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TimJul 13th, 2006 - 23:21:24

When my children taunt each other and it escalates to a fight, both of them suffer consequenses. The taunter and the puncher. Materazzi should suffer the same consequenses that Zindane suffers. Also, any referee that allows a game to degrade into a racist brawl should suffer consequenses from the governing body.

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PaulJul 13th, 2006 - 23:52:39

sour grapes. Anyone who has played sport at a serious level is aware that unpleasent words are exchanged all the time on the field. This is 100% Zidane's fault. Someone of his experience is well aware the words have no meaning behind them and are just being used to get under his skin. Shameful action by one of my favourite players but he was the one out of line.

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ChrisJul 14th, 2006 - 01:34:30

Let's get one thing straight... This intimidating behavior is common in all professional sports. That being said, please explain to me how such a professional athlete as Zidane, at the last game of his entire career, when it's tied 1-1 with the chance to make history, looses his temper on an insult... I think this is unprofessional. What if he decided to cool down and concentrate on the game as a real professional athlete (and don't get me wrong, I admire him). He probably heard worst throughout his entire life, but why react there at such a crucial time! Some will say that it's human, Ok probably! But I would bet that if it was to happen again, he would just ignore the whole thing.

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VarianJul 14th, 2006 - 02:11:59

Chris, you give Zidane too much credit. He did not think he was throwing away anything. The ball was far away, the ref was far away, he thought no one was watching, so he head butted thinking he could get away with it - even Materazzi wasn't expecting it. It was a COWARDLY act. Did you see how stunned Zidane was when he got caught? He did something selfish and stupid that cost France the World Cup. And all the idiots who are making excuses for him are showing what fools they are.

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dakJul 14th, 2006 - 04:28:35

Since when does verbal provocation excuse physical assault? In a criminal trial, the defense of 'he called me a name' would be laughed out of court.

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AnnaJul 14th, 2006 - 04:37:38

What a shame, people cannot see another country to win. Throughout the tournament, all the media did, surfing what was going on in Italy about the scandel in order to intimidate the players. Shame on you all, and what Zidane did, he should be ashamed for the rest of his life. Also as a professional player he deserves to be kicked in his ass and send him where the moon does not shine.

Our children were disgusted to view on tv, a professional player acting as little child. If it wasn't for the penalty kick, France would have not even have a goal in the net. We always blame the refs, why is that? The ref did the right thing and give Zidane the red card. Now for all of you out there thinking we were given the World Cup, you are all wrong. The Italians played very well and after 24 years we well deserve to win again. And another thing I would like to say, in every sport, players always exchange words and beatings and what is the big fuss!!!!!!!!!!!!

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JoeJul 14th, 2006 - 07:30:52

You are absolutely right Anna. While I am an American (and would have liked to have seen the USA do better), Italy was the clear winner and the best team. It is sad to see the Zidane issue take the headlines. And it is SO STUPID. Consider other sports, like boxing. Muhammad Ali was probably the greatest fighter of all time, and he constantly taunted his opponents with 'trash talk'. Can you imagine, Joe Frazier, after losing to Ali, crying to the world that Ali was making fun of him and that's why he lost? Zidane is a baby. He is like Mike Tyson who ate someone's ear. I cannot believe the French people are supporting someone like Zidane, who single-handedly destroyed the World Cup for them. Well, if they choose to be stupid, so be it. Zidane is a COWARD. He butt-headed Materazzi thinking that no one was watching, and was stunned when the referee came over and kicked him out. Even Materazzi was caught off guard - so much for Zidane acting so gallantly to defend his mother! And what a nice mother, who says she would like to see Materazzi's 'balls on a platter'.

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JamesJul 14th, 2006 - 20:15:27

Italy 'best' team?! Whole world is laughing!

Some ignorant people (they can't be called fans 'cause they apparently don't know about football) claimed Italy is the 'best' team. The whole world is laughing!

Australia is laughing.

Did they defeat us? Definitely not, referee defeated us. If they're the best, what should we be called?

USA is laughing.

Oh, they're the best. We defeated them, only that their 13th man, the referee, took away our winning goal, a perfectly legitimate goal. If they were the best, we would be the best of the best.

Italy is laughing.

See, told you already, we're the best to fake a fall, and we're the best to fake an injury; we're the best to pull the oppositing players' jersey, and we're the best to tackle them dowm from behind; we're the best to get help from referees; we're the best to get other team's best players off the pitch.


When some claim Italy is the 'best' team, the whole world is laughing.

The whole world except me, I do think Italy is the best----the best game-fixer of all time.

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