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Zidane and Materazzi Get FIFA Bans
(Goal.com) - The two players at the center of the "Head-butt Heard Around the World" during the World Cup finals on July 9 have been banned a total of five matches and fined a total of $10,000.
France's Zinedine Zidane was banned three matches by FIFA and also fined $6,000. Because Zidane retired, he will participate in three days of community service.
"Zinedine Zidane has also agreed to do community service work with children and youngsters," read a FIFA statement. "As Zidane has now retired from international football, the committee took note of Zidane's pledge to do three days of community service work with children and youngsters as part of FIFA's humanitarian activities"
Italy's Marco Materazzi has been banned two international matches and fined $4,000 for his part in provoking the famous head-butt from Zidane, an incident which marred the 2006 World Cup finals.
"In their statements, both players stressed that Materazzi's comments had been defamatory but not of a racist nature," continued the FIFA statement.
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Comments
I disagree with the verdict in requards to Materazzi because players are always talking trash on the field and unless they are going to ban everyone for two games then he shouldn't have been banned just because Zidane lost control and head-butted Materazzi.
Posted by: lisa | July 20, 2006 05:46 PM
I agree lisa, trash talk on the field is part of the psychological game,they all do it.Why wasn't Paulsen suspended after he taunted Totti all game and he retaliated,Totti was suspended and missed the rest of Euro2004,Fifa concluded that Materazzi did not insult Zidane via terrorism nor mother insults,so why is he suspended? granted I know Materazzi is not a saint,but just because it's Zidane it doesn't mean anything,Zidane was frustrated he requested to substituded,but Domenech left him in,then he lost his head and the rest is history.But what is fair is fair,If you get suspended for insulting a player,most games would end up five on five.
Posted by: Tony p | July 20, 2006 07:02 PM
Once again, FIFA shows there is a clear double-standard for these things. So, FIFA's determination is that both parties are equally at fault?? Zidane suspended for 3 games...HELLOOOOOOOO! HE'S RETIRED!!!!! I wonder what the verdict would have been if Materazzi head-butted Zidane. I would bet anything the punishment would have been VERRRRRY different.
Posted by: ForzaItalia | July 20, 2006 08:08 PM
who cares.. its a game, move on and forget bout it. Zidane is an idiot and Materrazzi got the best of him, soo move on.
Posted by: dont worry bout it | July 20, 2006 08:28 PM
Wether it's football, hockey, handball, cycling or whatever, mental strength is as important as physical prowess. These are very highly paid experts in their fields of choice and if all it takes is " naughty talk " to take a great player out of the game it will happen again and again. If Zidane really wanted to hurt the Italians, he should have put the ball into the twine. Grow up, ZouZou
Posted by: Robert Soccerman | July 20, 2006 08:40 PM
im with Robert Soccerman.. everything u said was pretty much rgt in every way possible
Posted by: dont worry bout it | July 21, 2006 01:09 AM
Well,we all agree that it's a game,but Materazzi should'nt have used foul language in the pitch.
Posted by: Tamara Ekiamene [ jp] | July 21, 2006 04:11 PM
Let's put an end to it already!!!Materazzi did what is done and has been done for decades,the mental game is just as important as the physical game, Zidane was frustrated and he fell into the trap,he should have known better.
Posted by: Tony p | July 21, 2006 08:19 PM
and btw, its zizou
Posted by: the brettmeister | July 23, 2006 03:56 AM
I AM FORM GERMANY I THINK THAT ZIDANE DID GOOD BY PUNCHING THAT ITALIAN MATE. I THINK ZIDANE WILL RETURN TU FIFA LATER AND HE IS GONNA PLAY LIKE IT HAPPEN BEFORE HE SAID HE IS NOT GONNA PLAY NO HE IS IT'S JUST A QUESTION OF WHEN ??????
Posted by: MINDIS | July 23, 2006 01:59 PM
Italy - World Cup Champions...enough said.
Posted by: ForzaItalia | July 24, 2006 12:36 PM
FIFA did what i was expecting, to ban both players-zizuu and maty! This was because no one had a ball Zizuu and Maty respectively. It is also the same thing if they could fight each other off the football pitch,they could both be purnished. If at all that could happened while they were fighting with the ball then Zizuu could be banned also because of his revenge! Please people have to understand these rules!!!
I believe if Zizuu could be in his mind set he could'nt allow that nasty to happen to him because he obvious new that was his last International kick. But Maty was bright-fool to take the advantage of tired-frustarted zizuu and he knew exactly that could lead Zizuu's dismisal! The question in my mind is that What could happened to Italian team if Zizuu could have been left to play to the last minute?? Of course Italian Team could have lost! So,Is it true that Italy did not deserve the World Cup Championship??I do not know,may be you know.
Posted by: Revelian S. N | July 26, 2006 10:17 AM
zizou zinedine zidane ,please come back for france for just the euro 2008,please please plaease please zizou
Posted by: hazim | August 30, 2006 10:35 PM
Look all of us where not there on the pitch with zidane and Materazzi, so we should respect what fifa has done...
Posted by: Nick | August 31, 2006 04:37 PM
i will have done the same thing.Dont test someones patience when they are tired, frastrated and no effort is yielding fruits. Zidane I suport your action.
Posted by: odhiambo | September 1, 2006 06:32 AM
what i think Materazzi need's to play on the field just like everybody else not to worry about the
BETTER PLAYER!
its all jealousy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: lil' joe | September 1, 2006 07:32 PM