Zidane apparently called 'son of a terrorist whore'...(Drudge headline)

Drudge Report and Times Online ^ | 10 July 06 | Matt Hughes

[SkyPilot]

Our correspondent finds out what may have caused a great player to lose his head in such spectacular style

WITH his monkish mien backed by a sense of brooding menace, Zinédine Zidane has always been something of an enigma, so it is perhaps fitting that the final act of his career should be the source of such mystery. Just why did a man blessed with complete control of a football lose his head in such a violent manner at such a crucial moment, boring it into the chest of Marco Materazzi?

As L’Equipe summed up the moment of madness with a headline of “Regrets Éternels”, a day of endless questioning began. With many conflicting versions of events circling on the internet and in the world’s media, The Times enlisted the help of an expert lip reader, Jessica Rees, to determine the precise nature of the dialogue that caused Zidane to react in such a manner.

After an exhaustive study of the match video, and with the help of an Italian translator, Rees claimed that Materazzi called Zidane “the son of a terrorist whore” before adding “so just f*** off” for good measure, supporting the natural assumption that the Frenchman must have been grievously insulted.

[SkyPilot]

I was waiting for this. I knew there would be some sort of "I am Muslim and I am a victim" defense.

[satchmodog9]

Truth hurts?

[dfwgator]

Not to defend Zidane at all (he should have retaliated, but there were better times and ways to do it), but if the Italian called Zidane himself a 'terrorist', that's one thing. But he brought his mother into it. That's what we call "fighting words."

[GAB-1955]

Actually, that has been confirmed by Italian lip readers who passed what was said to the BBC. Zidane was also told to go "f himself." The Italian wished Zidane's mother, who is ill, "an ugly death."

It doesn't excuse the head-butting, but it's more than self-pity or Muslim victimhood. The Italian is a despicable man himself and I hope he ends up in Serie C1 with Jueventus.

[TheRealDBear]

Big effin' deal. Your average playground basketball game has worse taunts.

[Pox]

Oh boo hoo. Trash talk in professional sports has been around as long as professional sports.

He got suckered in to taking a cheap shot, and couldn't resist the temptation. Life is tough, and I can't seem to find a reason to care about his whining over his display of weakness.

[Mr. Jeeves]

Hey, the Iranian National Team could use a coach with motivational skills like Zidane's. ;)

[SkyPilot]

A clarification to my comment:

I don't think Zidane has given a statement yet as to what words were exchanged. The "son of a terrorist whore" translation came from the lip reader.

[MikefromOhio]

Although it does appear that this was actually said, Zidane should've kept his head. Smack about your mom especially with her being ill and all that aside, you can't allow the players of another team to get into your head given the situation. Just beat them on the scoreboard.

I mean, did you EVER hear of MIchael Jordan kneeing someone in the crotch because they talked about his dad or Joe Montana ear-holing someone after a play because they made fun of his 80s mullet?

Nope.

How very soccer of him.

[dfwgator]

Taunting the person himself is one thing, talking about his mother like that, especially when she was ill, frankly deserved some kind of action, I wouldn't blame have blamed Zidane at all, had it not been such a violent retaliation. That being said, Zidane had to be tossed, there was no other way. But as they say, there are always two sides to every story, and it's usually only the retaliator that gets caught.

[JerseyHighlander]

Yet they don't tell us in what language the alleged insult was hurled. Seems to be you know, the most damn critical piece of information here so others can independently verify the lip reading.

Italian, French, English?

[Cinnamon]

aside all specualtion.. he fudged up big time... it's like Mike Tyson bitting off that ear..

[Blue Jays]

Hi dfwgator-

Zidane walked right into their trap if the Italians truly believed they could make him lose his cool. The best response would have been for Zidane to put another one in the back of the net during overtime if he really wanted to anger his opponents.

~ Blue Jays ~

[worst-case scenario]

Zidane hasn't made that sort of self-aggrandizing defense. He hasn't said anything about what happened at all. The Times got a lipreader to figure out what the Italian must have said. From Wikipedia:

Since both players refused to comment on the incident, there are various allegations about what led to Zidane's violent outburst. His agent, Alain Migliaccio has claimed that a "very serious" comment by Materazzi provoked the attack.[7] Reportedly, the deaf forensic lip-reader Jessica Rees was employed to analyze the video sequences with the help of an Italian translator. According to these reports, Materazzi spoke in Italian - a language understood by Zidane due to his time spent with Juventus F.C. - and first told him: "Hold on, wait, that one's not for a nigger like you." As the players walked forward, Materazzi allegedly said: "We all know you are the son of a terrorist whore." Then, just before the headbutt, he was seen saying: "So just fuck off."

You can think less of him for losing his temper, but it's not fair to claim that he is crying victimhood.

[dfwgator]

I mean, did you EVER hear of MIchael Jordan kneeing someone in the crotch because they talked about his dad

You could bet if someone had the lack of class to talk badly about Jordan's dad, especially after his murder would have probably gotten a well-deserved ass kicking from Mike. The fact is nobody would have stooped to that level, even in the thuggish NBA.

[SkyPilot]

See post #8.

[dfwgator]

Zidane calmly walked off the field, he knew he probably deserved what he got and didn't argue.

[JRios1968]

I mean, did you EVER hear of MIchael Jordan kneeing someone in the crotch because they talked about his dad or Joe Montana ear-holing someone after a play because they made fun of his 80s mullet?

The difference is that they were playing REAL sports for grown-ups.

[dfwgator]

In hindsight, Zizou is probably telling himself that exact thing right now, but in the heat of the moment, he lost it.

[YaYa123]

The obvious question...what did Zidane say or do that would cause the Italian player to say such a thing?

[JerseyHighlander]

I should start reading the comments before posting one of these years. For posting that info about verification I present to you this bit of comedy spoofing of the event:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ga4Je54VCg

[dfwgator]

The voice in that video sounds like Cartman.

[Sam's Army]

Remember when Rudi Voeller got spat on by Frank Rijkaard in the 1990 WC? He jogged away and the Germans stuck it to the Dutch by winning the game. Lothar Matthaus went in front of the Dutch bench and provided a few non-friendly gestures after the game-winning goal.

And somehow, the world didn't stop. A side effect of cameras on everything nowadays is that so much gets over-analyzed.

[Diddle E. Squat]

I was waiting for this. I knew there would be some sort of "I am Muslim and I am a victim" defense.

What a stupid comment on your part.

[hermgem]

Quite obviously this perfectly coordinated and executed back flip along with Materazzi's agonizing and writhing in severe pain on the turf was executed to perfection.
The primary objective:
Have the oppositions best player ejected.

[Texas Songwriter]

My first question is, "Does Zidane speak Italian?" Does the Italian speak French?"

[RJL]

After an exhaustive study of the match video, and with the help of an Italian translator, Rees claimed that Materazzi called Zidane “the son of a terrorist whore” before adding “so just f*** off” for good measure, supporting the natural assumption that the Frenchman must have been grievously insulted.

What did their "exhaustive study of the match video" show about the trash talk Zidane was spewing?

[SamAdams76]

What is all this fuss about a silly soccer game? Can't wait for football season.

[TheRealDBear]

Heh, I can see Trey and Matt planning a South Park episode about this right now...

[freedumb2003]

Boo Hoo Boo Hoo!

This wimp wouldn't last 5 seconds in an NBA game.

I guess the standard World Soccer diving lessons include other girlie-man lessons as well.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Yet they don't tell us in what language the alleged insult was hurled. Seems to be you know, the most damn critical piece of information here so others can independently verify the lip reading.

I think I read that Zidane used to play for a Milan team, so he probably knows Italian.

[JerseyHighlander]

It's hard to believe that he did that with 10 minutes left in his career. Maybe he wanted an excuse to be able to come out of retirement so that isn't his swan call.

[Sam's Army]

Zidane speaks Italian as he played professionally in Turin (Juventus) for a few years.

[LdSentinal]

The strange thing is why head-butt him? Why not punch him in the face?

[freedumb2003]

But he brought his mother into it. That's what we call "fighting words."

Lyle Alzado (RIP) once told an opponent he would "kill your family and let you live." And that was OLD SCHOOL trash talk.

[worst-case scenario]

It's soccer - you can't use your hands.

[kabar]

Big effin' deal. Your average playground basketball game has worse taunts.

I don't know what playground you grew up on, but in Jersey City those were fighting words. If that what was said, I don't blame Zidane for retaliating. He just should have been more clever in how he went about it.

[toru watanabe]

Zidane's reaction was inappropriate, but I'd probably do the same if called that. Too bad he ended up hurting his team.

[GAB-1955]

My first question is, "Does Zidane speak Italian?" Does the Italian speak French?"

Both Zidane and the Italian play in Serie A, the top Italian league, so probably so.

[Blue Jays]

Hi DES-

Zidane has played for Juventus and Real Madrid recently. I'm sure there are words in Spanish that also sound similar.

~ Blue Jays ~

[freedumb2003]

What a stupid comment on your part.

True (no offense Pilot). Because all terrorists are girly-men cowards doesn't make all girly-men terrorists.

[Sam's Army]

You sound like a certified badass.

[Cinnamon]

probably the impending loss drove him over the edge.

[freedumb2003]

but I'd probably do the same if called that.

Then you would lose the psychological game as he did. If I knew a little "mama talk" would unsettle a player I would be unmerciful.

[Dont Mention the War]

The voice in that video sounds like Cartman.

It is Cartman. Whoever made this dubbed in some old SP dialogue.

[freedumb2003]

but in Jersey City those were fighting words. If that what was said, I don't blame Zidane for retaliating. He just should have been more clever in how he went about it.

There has been trash talk as long as there has been sports. But you make a good point. The idea is to make the insulter eat his words. Instead, he gave his opponent GREAT satisfaction.

Only a fool would lose his composure.

[TonyRo76]

» his whining over his display of weakness

Or, is it whining over his display of Frenchness?

;)

[toru watanabe]

It's soccer - you can't use your hands. LOL

[LanaTurnerOverdrive]

I was waiting for this. I knew there would be some sort of "I am Muslim and I am a victim" defense.

What a stupid comment. Zidane has not yet spoken on the matter. You don't know what you're talking about and (I'll bet) you know even less about soccer. Zidane is one of the greatest talents in the world....what do you do?

[freedumb2003]

You sound like a certified badass.

Nah, but in Los Angeles, Trash Talk is part of the game -- from the blacktop of South Central to the suburbs of Encino.