Zidane sent off in extra time of World Cup final for headbutt

Yahoo News ^ | 9 July 06 | JEROME PUGMIRE

[lasereye]

he seems to have secularized with the rest of France

That's good news. Maybe more French Muslims are like that and the majority will westernize over time.

[kabar]

LOL

[CaraM]

Still, I wonder what Materazzi said that made him suddenly change his tone?

Could Zidane have gotten angry because Materazzi had reached around his body from behind and put his hand on his chest? Was that a 'normal' gesture in soccer?

[goldstategop]

The referee made the right call. To do that to your opponent is a disgrace. France fully deserved to lose just for Zidane's unsportsmanlike conduct alone. In this championship game, France got a big fat red card. A loss.

[Michael.SF.]

There is absolutely no F'n way that should've knocked the guy down.

Sorry, I looked at it again, the guy was not expecting it at all. Look at the force Zidane put into the butting.

[PallMal]

There is absolutely no F'n way that should've knocked the guy down

Let's see you get head-butted in the chest by a trained athlete, and see if you're still on your feet.

Anyone trained in martial arts knows that a hit to the sternum can kill someone, and especially if the person being hit doesn't expect the blow to occur, as is the case here.

[SkyPilot]

Zidane was walking away when the Italian said something, which was probably over the top,

I will be interested to hear what the media reports tomorrow of what was said, or not said.

Either way, I doubt the Italian could have called his mother a son of rug salesman or something else that would have justified what Zidane did.

[Trajan88]

My first thought was that maybe Z.Z. wanted to get sent off (was there a confirmation of his injury from earlier in the match... separated shoulder or some-such)?

Anyway, there are more honorable ways to be sent off to save face if a player is in too much pain to continue.

[MikefromOhio]

LOL

Sure it would've staggered him, but he went down like he was friggin shot.

He embellished it. There is absolutely not one doubt in my mind about it.

It doesn't lessen the stupidity or the fact that the act was a definite foul, but the act was truly unnecessary and was VERY soccer-esque.

[mware]

Well the running of the Bulls is still going on in Spain. Now they are really insane.

[Michael.SF.]

Good List But I would delete Rodman and ad Pete Rose All star game.

[MikefromOhio]

Let's see you get head-butted in the chest by a trained athlete, and see if you're still on your feet.

It happened in high school wrestling...I continued to stay on my feet AND that guy outweighed me by 50 pounds (I was wrestling heavyweight at 200 lbs)....so hahah not working there...

Anyone trained in martial arts knows that a hit to the sternum can kill someone, and especially if the person being hit doesn't expect the blow to occur, as is the case here.

That's horsecrap and you know it. No headbutt ever given would make his left leg fly out like that. YOu are just looking for an excuse. Like I said, it was VERY soccer-esque of him to fall down like that.

[PallMal]

Sure it would've staggered him

He embellished it. There is absolutely not one doubt in my mind about it.

So I guess you know this because you've been head-butted unexpectedly in the chest many times.

[SkyPilot]

I watched the video again. It is not clear on my computer, but on my TV screen Zidane is smiling at Marco as they exchanged words.

Even the two American World Cup announcers said that during the broadcast.

Your comment has me thinking though:

Zidane was walking away when the Italian said something, which was probably over the top, from Zanes POV.

I wonder if Zidane will say it was something anti-Muslim?

[CaraM]

Top Ten list:

What about Tonya Harding getting the other figure skater attacked and injured. (forgot her name)

[MikefromOhio]

LOL

ok, because a soccer player has NEVER embellished something like that.

Look at the left leg.

LOL

[Swanks]

LOL. Couldn't get enough of the Artese clips. Literally mugged by fans using their tools of beer, popcorn and spit.
That scene set back the NBA five years if such a thing were possible.

[Sam's Army]

Chuck Norris got headbutted once and didn't get knocked down either.

Hey, wait a minute! Are you...?

[MikefromOhio]

Nancy Kerrigan

[MikefromOhio]

Bet your arse :)


nah, since I was a small guy (comparatively) wrestling heavyweight, he decided to shoot on me, but he screwed it up (being 6'6" will do that too ya) and he caught me about chest level.

Didn't even knock me down but I didn't try to kick my left leg out like this Italian soccer actor/player did....