The truth for the time being is that nobody really knows what Materazzi said exactly. And I fear nobody will ever know what happened exactly. I guess that ZZ will be discreet as usual and Materazzi will have no problem to deny all the different unofficial versions.

The last version from the Guardian (according to an italian lips-reader) :

"Marco Materazzi provoked Zinedine Zidane by saying, "I wish an ugly death to you and all your family". "

Knowing that Zidane's mother is in hospital with a serious desease... That could explain this moment of madness , although all the cool head of this forum will keep on saying that ZZ is stupid...

That's a new one! I didn't have that on my list....



Of course. Though I would suggest 'unprofessional' is a better word than stupid.

When you play sport at that level, then you leave your personal family worries OUTSIDE the stadium. You focus only on the game and your team. Nothing else. If your worries are so pressing that they distract you, or make you vulnerable, then you should not be on the field. Because you are a liability to your team, and can be exploited by sneaky verbal tactics.

IF and only if the insult was mother-related:
So he went on the field, but could not leave his worries off the field. Bad for his team. Selfish to want last glory if he could not stay 100% professional. He was emotionally vulnerable, and the opposition saw that vulnerability and shot barbs into his psyche. He responded madly, and the rest is history. Bad example to up and coming young footballers.

Easy man... maybe u will win next time...

Maybe if you say terrorist to a white thats not a real insult but for a algerian son that can be considered like a terrible insult. Zidane don't have to react like that, but if Materrazzi said it he had to be punished to.

You speak gold Carrie. You have a sure cool head and a very clever mind but do you have a heart ?

Carrie, if your mother is dying and a stupid asshole says a bad joke on the death of your mother and your family ? Are you sure you would behave as a 100% professionnal ?

http://www.eurosport.com/football/worldcup/2006/sport_sto923758.shtml

Belis, I say this to you honestly. If my mother were dying I would be at her bedside. Not on a football pitch. There is no trophy in the world more important than that.

But if she was not dying, but was ill and probably watching the match, then sure I'd be on the pitch. And if someone said something like that...what would any ill mother prefer to see? A child who leads his team to collect a trophy/runner-up medal, and then is appluaded and cheered by the entire stadium as a hero of a generation...or a child who acts like a thug and gets sent off in disgrace! I know which I would prefer, and I *believe* that is the call I would make. (I do not say 'certain' as no-one on earth can be certain until it happens. But I truly believe it.)

But we do not know that is what was said yet. I think everyone guesses to whatever suits their line of thought best (mother/racist etc).

Until we do know, how can we judge truly?

But I stand by what I said. No excuse for violence, not in public, not when thousands hold you as a shining star.

if it is true (and probably is) zidane is the arrogant, snob and violent french who doesnt deserve the title of best player of the tournament
I probably had done the same thing materazzi did, I really hate these arrogants

I'm not agree in my opinion this is humour. We can see in video that Zidane and Materazzi laugh, after Materrazzi said something and Zidane give the headbut

I wasn't expecting Mr M. to confess anything unglorious for him anyway.

I do not see what Zidane said made him so arrogant, I see only funny teasing that 's all.

Zidane didn't answered to materazzi in an "arrogant and snob" way to him.

As alex said we can clearly see on the video zidane was joking and wasn't trying to offend M.M...
If zidane suddenly headbutted him while he was in a good mood a few seconds before, M.M must have said to him something terrible.
I laughed when i read he said :"the kind of insult you hear so many times on the field you don't even notice them anymore"

Yeah, sure.....Do you seriously think marco is saying the whole truth?

Of course materazzi said somethin that ofended zidane very much. U can see at his face.

We make our future, Zidane decided not to stay calm and decided to make the revenge in that moment. Personally i understand his atitude and im with him, also it was a bad way of finishing his carrear.

Honest answer indeed, but you never know how you would react after 1hour 1/2 of play, after having been hurted, tackled all the game long(I do not mean uncorrectly).

I don't pretend that Zidane red card is not deserved but I would really know what M. said that provoked such an outburst and I doubt that it is the "usual stuff" as said M. in his recent interview

Maybe someone here still hasn't got the point.

ZIDANE (RE)ACTED IN A FOOLISH, CHILDISH, STUPID, ARROGANT AND INAPPROPRIATE MANNER.

That's it. Can't you see it? There is no more to it than that.

It's SHAMEFUL how people here and even newspapers are trying to justify Zidane's (re)action. I read The Sun's online edition earlier and they show no more than understanding towards Zidane.

If M. insulted his mother, do you really think he knew she was (if she really was) ill or dying. Haven't you ever heard people curse each others' mothers withuot even knowing them? Things like "Your mum's so dumb that she...".

Come on - physical assault MUST NOT BE TOLLERATED OR JUSTIFIED in ANY way.

So please STOP IT!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAcxlWJuPYA&mode=related&search=italy%20france

I agree with you.

When i said "i understand what zidane did" i mean: probably i would make the same! But thats point of views.

AlucarD!! have a traumatism with french when he was again a bay....

It is you who don't get the point.

The problem is not Zidane anymore the problem is this dumbass of Materazzi.

Zidane made an unpardonable act, he paid , deserved, period.

Now what I wish is to send back M. in the stinking hole where he should have never come out from.

A French [beep!] in his baby bottle..