Sports/Olympics / Soccer
Zidane deserved Golden Ball
(AP)
Updated: 2006-07-14 10:11
Italy defender Marco Materazzi insisted that French soccer star Zinedine
Zidane deserved to be named best player at the World Cup despite his
actions in Sunday's final.
France's soccer team captain Zinedine Zidane takes part in a television
interview in Paris, July 12, 2006, in which he explained his head-butt on
Italy defender Marco Materazzi during the July 9, 2006 final of the
soccer World Cup.[Reuters]
Zidane was sent off for butting Materazzi in the chest after the two
exchanged words in extra time. The game finished 1-1 and Italy won its
fourth title in a penalty shootout.
Journalists still selected Zidane for the Golden Ball award, and
Materazzi disagreed with FIFA president Sepp Blatter's suggestion that
the 34-year-old French captain could be stripped of the title.
"He won it for what he did on the pitch," Materazzi told the Gazzetta
dello Sport. "He was the best."
Materazzi acknowledged he insulted Zidane, who he called his "hero,"
without giving specifics.
"I didn't say anything to him about racism, religion or politics,"
Materazzi said. "I didn't talk about his mother, either. I lost my mother
when I was 15 and even now I still get emotional talking about her."
Speaking on Canal-Plus television on Wednesday, Zidane didn't reveal what
Materazzi said, but indicated the insults related to his mother and
sister.
Zidane, who retired after his 108th appearance for France, stressed that
he felt no regret about his outburst "because that would mean (Materazzi)
was right to say all that."
"My act is not forgivable," Zidane said. "But they must also punish the
true guilty party, and the guilty party is the one who provokes."
FIFA is investigating Zidane.
Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours
Today's Top News
� China urges prudence on Korea tension
� US vetoes UN condemnation of Israel
� 320,000 evacuated as Typhoon lands
� Ex-Skyworth executives sentenced
� China warns of intensifying DPRK crisis
Top Sport News
Alibaba is the largest B2B marketplace in the world. Source model ship,
wooden puzzle, one-piece toilet, RC hovercraft, photo album, prom dress,
pocket bike, Vaginal Speculum, Samurai Sword, String Panty and PVC Pipe.
Learning Materials, Mandarin audio lessons, Chinese writing lessons, Chinese vocabulary lists, About chinese characters, News in Chinese, Go to China, Travel to China, Study in China, Teach in China, Dictionaries, Learn Chinese Painting, Your name in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese songs, Chinese proverbs, Chinese poetry, Chinese tattoo, Beijing 2008 Olympics, Mandarin Phrasebook, Chinese editor, Pinyin editor, China Travel, Travel to Beijing, Travel to Tibet
No comments:
Post a Comment