The 'What did Materazzi say to Zidane?' thread

[SubZeroCat]

If it was 'terrorist' then a head butt was a mild reaction. As with Cantona before him he'd be quite justified in taking direct action against racism

Indeed. I don't agree with random violence but I really don't agree with racism.

Neither of them are right but depending on what Materazzi said, Zidane has a right to defend himself (preferably not violently though...)

 

[zed]

Indeed. I don't agree with random violence but I really don't agree with racism.

Neither of them are right but depending on what Materazzi said, Zidane has a right to defend himself (preferably not violently though...)

How do you "defend yourself" against a racist comment then?

IMO the best defence is to ignore it. Reacting just gives the person making the comment exactly what they were looking for. This is professional sport at the highest level for fucks sake ...not a night out in a pub.

There's a time and a place.

 

[Belushi]

How do you "defend yourself" against a racist comment then?

IMO the best defence is to ignore it. Reacting just gives the person making the comment exactly what they were looking for. This is professional sport at the highest level for fucks sake ...not a night out in a pub.

There's a time and a place.

I'd still love to see some evidence Zidane alleging a 'racist comment' which so far just appears to be nothing but gossip.

 

[Buds and Spawn]

A David Trezeguet quote from the Sydney Morning Herald;

"He [Zidane] can leave with his head held high. The other one (Materazzi), even if he has won the Cup, cannot. Because there is more to life than soccer..."

Zidane remains untarnished in my opinion. He knocked the guy to the floor and nothing more - no spitting, gouging etc.. and he walked when the card was shown. He may have lost his country the World Cup but I've no doubt his reaction was justified.

Shame on the pundits and journalists who never asked why. If it had been an England player in that situation there would be endless talk of what provoked him.

Like Trezeguet said - there's more to life...

 

[Belushi]

but I've no doubt his reaction was justified.

Why? none of the players has spoken about what was said

 

[zed]

I guess it all depends on what was said.

We all have our own personal 'hot buttons'. If it had been me and the Italian player had said something about one of my kids for example, I would have ripped one of his arms off and rammed it down his throat.

Now that would have made good TV.

 

[Spymaster]

I've no doubt his reaction was justified.

What do you know that we don't?

Shame on the pundits and journalists who never asked why. If it had been an England player in that situation there would be endless talk of what provoked him.

The whole fucking world is asking why. Why bring England into this?

 

[poului]

5efv67e5rtg

Zidane's move reminded me very much of the hunting antics of the pachycephalosaurus species of dinosaur,

 

[Buds and Spawn]

Why? none of the players has spoken about what was said

From watching what happened. A button was pushed - and he reacted. Assuming it was some kind of racist slur is pretty reasonable IMO.

Otherwise it would be too random to make sense.

As for the silence of the players - I can't imagine that will last long. But - no-one was in earshot from what I saw, and Zidane is exactly the kind of guy to keep quiet.

I was watching with my girlfriend who is not a football fan and not a fan of violence - but she was pretty convinced that Materazzi provoked the situation.

I think it also deserves stressing that for an 'act of violence' Zidane's heatbutt was very restrained. He just put Materazzi on the floor. No more.

 

[tommers]

Zidane just did what the French do when things arent going their way - he had a hissy fit

strange. I thought they were on top.

 

[William of Walworth]

I'm sure the full story will emerge eventually.

Sounds like Materazzi may have said something outrageously provocative, but ZZ in reacting as he did, did a lot to lose his team the World Cup.

I wonder how he feels about it now??

 

[Belushi]

From watching what happened. A button was pushed - and he reacted. Assuming it was some kind of racist slur is pretty reasonable IMO.

Otherwise it would be too random to make sense.

As for the silence of the players - I can't imagine that will last long. But - no-one was in earshot from what I saw, and Zidane is exactly the kind of guy to keep quiet.

I was watching with my girlfriend who is not a football fan and not a fan of violence - but she was pretty convinced that Materazzi provoked the situation.

I think it also deserves stressing that for an 'act of violence' Zidane's heatbutt was very restrained. He just put Materazzi on the floor. No more.

Rubbish - all kinds of insults are thrown on the sports fields, assuming it must be racist is complete nonsense, especially considering Zidanes disciplinary record. It wasnt the first time he's been red carded for head butting remember.

In fact wasnt he once suspended for breaking an opponenets cheekbone?

 

[Spymaster]

From watching what happened. A button was pushed - and he reacted. Assuming it was some kind of racist slur is pretty reasonable IMO.

Otherwise it would be too random to make sense.

As for the silence of the players - I can't imagine that will last long. But - no-one was in earshot from what I saw, and Zidane is exactly the kind of guy to keep quiet.

I was watching with my girlfriend who is not a football fan and not a fan of violence - but she was pretty convinced that Materazzi provoked the situation.

I think it also deserves stressing that for an 'act of violence' Zidane's heatbutt was very restrained. He just put Materazzi on the floor. No more.

You are Zinedine Zidane's dad and I claim my five pounds.

 

[mack]

I wonder how he feels about it now??

C'est La Vie?

 

[Dr. Furface]

Zidane bottled it - having already scored from the spot, he was scared that he'd be the man to miss for France in the inevitable shoot-out, so he figured he'd remove himself from the situation by getting sent off.

Seeing Materazzi close by, a player not fit to lace his boots, let alone play against him in world cup final, he said to himself 'you're going down, scumbag'... and the rest is history.

 

[SubZeroCat]

Zidane bottled it - having already scored from the spot, he was scared that he'd be the man to miss for France in the inevitable shoot-out, so he figured he'd remove himself from the situation by getting sent off.

Seeing Materazzi close by, a player not fit to lace his boots, let alone play against him in world cup final, he said to himself 'you're going down, scumbag'... and the rest is history.

Oh well that's cleared it up then, it's good that you had that long chat with Zidane last night otherwise we'd have never known!

 

[poului]

45968l30-f5y

Is there any actual evidence whatsoever to even suggest that Materazzi made a racial slur, other than the fact that he's a horrid greasy Italian and therefore must be the one at fault for provoking our beloved gentrified Zidane?

 

[Buds and Spawn]

The whole fucking world is asking why. Why bring England into this?

I'm not bringing England into this - I'm talking about the crap attitude of the pundits - I was watching the BBC 1 coverage and Linekar and co. were falling over themselves to find the adjectives to best describe Zidane's 'shame'. Listening to Shearer condemn Zidane when he'd suggested a course of action Rooney might follow up on Ronaldo back at Man Utd. was pathetic. No-one asked why Zidane did it.

I wonder how he feels about it now??

He can't be a happy bunny that's for sure.

Rubbish - all kinds of insults are thrown on the sports fields, assuming it must be racist is complete nonsense, especially considering Zidanes disciplinary record. It wasnt the first time he's been red carded for head butting remember.

In fact wasnt he once suspended for breaking an opponenets cheekbone?

And Materazzi is no Angel either. I still think Zidane's 'act of violence' was restrained. It's true that all sorts of insults are thrown on the football pitch - does make them right? At some point I guess certain players - Zidane in this case - feel they have no choice but to react.

I'm not excusing him for what he did - I wanted France to beat Italy. But whether his actions were justifed is another matter.

 

[Dr. Furface]

Oh well that's cleared it up then, it's good that you had that long chat with Zidane last night otherwise we'd have never known!

Not quite mate - he texted me!

 

[Belushi]

Is there any actual evidence whatsoever to even suggest that Materazzi made a racial slur, other than the fact that he's a horrid greasy Italian and therefore must be the one at fault for provoking our beloved gentrified Zidane?

Innit, he must be a racist, despite Zidanes history of losing his temper and lashing out at tense moments.

 

[Macaroni Pony]

And Materazzi is no Angel either.

Indeed - he's well known for gobbing off at opposition players.

 

[bolshiebhoy]

Innit, he must be a racist, despite Zidanes history of losing his temper and lashing out at tense moments.

Beckenbauer doesn't seem to agree:

"Something must have been said to Zidane. He is actually a reserved and inoffensive person"

Let's be honest this wouldn't be the first time Materazzi was involved in a racially charged incident.

 

[Belushi]

Beckenbauer doesn't seem to agree:

"Something must have been said to Zidane. He is actually a reserved and inoffensive person"

Let's be honest this wouldn't be the first time Materazzi was involved in a racially charged incident.

I dont deny Materazzi probably said something, I dont like the assumption that it must have been racist to have caused Zidane to lose his temper, i odnt know much about Materazzi so I'd be grateful if you could provide a link oh his previous involvement in racist incidents.

Zidane has a long history of losing it on the pitch and attacking opposing players. I'm amazed people are fuinding it so difficult to accept that he couls have done so yesterday evening.

 

[Spymaster]

No-one asked why Zidane did it.

I heard several comments from the pundits that you mention suggesting that there must have been some provocation. The thrust of the commentary was not geared to asking why it happened because:

a) It was impossible to find out at the time, and

b) It doesn't matter one jot what the provocation was, there is no excuse for violent conduct like that whatsoever, so the question "why" is academic beyond being a point of general interest.

I'm not bringing England into this

Well you did, here:

If it had been an England player in that situation there would be endless talk of what provoked him.

Your comment suggests that had it been an England player in the same situation, the commentators would have sought to mitigate the offence. I think that's bollocks. Look at Rooneys sending off, he was roundly condemened by all at the time (though Shearers comment was fucking stupid).

 

[Sue]

I dont deny Materazzi probably said something, I dont like the assumption that it must have been racist to have caused Zidane to lose his temper, i odnt know much about Materazzi so I'd be grateful if you could provide a link oh his previous involvement in racist incidents.

Zidane has a long history of losing it on the pitch and attacking opposing players. I'm amazed people are fuinding it so difficult to accept that he couls have done so yesterday evening.

Oh. I thought your explanation was more like:

Zidane just did what the French do when things arent going their way - he had a hissy fit

 

[JTG]

sadly I find it entirely unsurprising that there are plenty here willing to call Matarazzi a racist without having the slightest idea what, if anything, was said.

The better man would have let it be if anything provocative was said, Zidane showed he wasn't the better man. In fact, he's a bit of a nobhead.

Haven't forgotten him trampling all over that Saudi player in 1998, he's got form for being a violent gobshite

Forza Azzuri

 

[Belushi]

Oh. I thought your explanation was more like:

Why are you confused? I do think that Zidane, great player though he is, does have a petulant streak. I think he demonstrated it last night.

I will of course change my opinion if anyone on here shows any evidence that he was racially abused.

 

[William of Walworth]

Is there any actual evidence whatsoever to even suggest that Materazzi made a racial slur, other than the fact that he's a horrid greasy Italian and therefore must be the one at fault for provoking our beloved gentrified Zidane?

Spot on -- I apologise for partly going along with the assumption, in my earlier post

We need evidence ...

 

[Belushi]

Haven't forgotten him trampling all over that Saudi player in 1998, he's got form for being a violent gobshite

Innit, did a Ronney on the Saudi captain didnt he?

And he was suspended when with uventus in the Champions League for headbutting.

 

[Spymaster]

I will of course change my opinion if anyone on here shows any evidence that he was racially abused.

Why?