Sign In / Register
Make This My Home Page | Feedback |RSS
You are here: IE »   Story

Headbutt inquiry begins

  • Print
  • Mail This Article
  • Comments
  • Add to favorites
  • Marco Materazzi appeared before FIFA’s disciplinary committee on Friday to answer questions about what he did to provoke Zinedine Zidane to head-butt him during Italy’s World Cup final victory over France.

    The Italian defender met with officials at FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich on Friday morning, FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot said.

    Maingot however refused to provide any details of the meeting, which came one day after world soccer’s governing body said it would open disciplinary proceedings against Materazzi.

    Materazzi is being investigated based on statements by Zidane, who was sent off for ramming his head into the defender’s chest in extra time of Sunday’s final in Berlin.

    Zidane said on French television on Wednesday that Materazzi insulted his mother and sister. Materazzi has admitted insulting Zidane, but denied verbally attacking Zidane’s mother.

    Ads by Google

    Materazzi’s agent Claudio Vigorelli said FIFA should only consider Zidane’s reaction.

    “His reaction was absolutely out of order, especially in a big game like the final, because it was his last game as a football player,” Materazzi told the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

    Vigorelli said any punishment toward Materazzi could create a difficult precedent, citing the case of Italy forward Francesco Totti, who was banned for three games for spitting at Denmark’s Christian Poulsen during the 2004 European Championship.

    “Totti was banned for four games, which was reduced to three, and nothing happened to Poulsen — this is absolutely a similar case,” Vigorelli said.

    “If they want to attack a player for what he keeps saying on the pitch, they will be very busy in the future because it’s quite normal that players shout to each other in a game - especially when it’s such a stressful game.”

    Zidane is scheduled to attend a FIFA hearing next Thursday. A decision is expected later that day.

    FIFA has declined to comment on possible punishments for either individuals or teams. Zidane has retired, but could be stripped of his award as the best player of the World Cup. Materazzi, however, could face a ban and fine.

    Comments
    Post comment

    Be the first to comment.

    Post a Comment
    Name:
    Email:
    Title:
    Maximum characters allowed     
    Comment:
    TERMS OF USE:
    The views, opinions and comments posted are your, and are not endorsed by this website. You shall be solely responsible for the comment posted here. The website reserves the right to delete, reject, or otherwise remove any views, opinions and comments posted or part thereof. You shall ensure that the comment is not inflammatory, abusive, derogatory, defamatory &/or obscene, or contain pornographic matter and/or does not constitute hate mail, or violate privacy of any person (s) or breach confidentiality or otherwise is illegal, immoral or contrary to public policy. Nor should it contain anything infringing copyright &/or intellectual property rights of any person(s).
    I agree to the terms of use.