I don’t know what was said to Zinedine Zidane to provoke such a dramatic reaction during the extra-time period of the biggest sporting event on the planet, but I do know the rules: If a player is guilty of violent conduct, he gets an automatic red card.
I also know about article 55 of the FIFA regulations on racism, but more to the point, the vital amendment to this article introduced in Zurich by the FIFA Executive Committee this March.
Par. 4: If any player, association or club official or spectator perpetrates any kind of racist
or contemptuous act as described by par. 1 and/or 2 of this article, three points will
automatically be deducted from the team concerned, if identifiable, after the first offence.
In the case of a second offence, six points will automatically be deducted, and for a
further offence, the team will be relegated.
In the case of matches without points, the team concerned, if identifiable, will be
disqualified.
The case is simple. If it can be shown that Materazzi made racist comments of any kind towards Zidane, Italy can and should be disqualified. They should stop talking about kicking racism out of football and actually kick the racists out of football.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
The Olive Ream 07.12.06 at 6:28 am
ABSOLUTELY!!!
Teeth Maestro 07.12.06 at 7:13 am
It is really sad to see Zidane been thrown out of the World Cup as I seriously suspect that the comment by Materazzi must have crossed all border of sanity.
Zidane may have been shown the red card and I believe that FIFA should seriously investigate why this incident actually happened. It could very well be possible that FIFA may play a cover up to avoid tarnishing the event but some one has to come to the bottom of all this.
I am proud of you Zidane, you actually ended your career with your head up high with self pride.
ConfoundedOverSeas 07.12.06 at 10:21 pm
Actually he ended his career with his head held about 5′7″ high, buried in another player’s chest. I am a huge Zizou fan and was rooting France til that point but it was an absolute disgrace that a captain and man of his stature, on the world stage, watched and admired by millions of kids stated to a billion people that an appropriate reaction to some form of verbal abuse POSSIBLY, is an incredibly brutal headbutt. And i don’t give a shit what Materazzi said to him, racial, anti-religious or personal that was inexcusable. Incidentally Zidane has never stated, nor implied Materazzi made an Islamophobic or racial remark, and although he may well have done i am appalled how the Italian team have been tried and found guilty of racism by so many people already…Teeth Maestro, what exactly are you proud of???
But yes the incident should be investigated and any racism should be severly punished…BUT as far as i know, headbutting someone is also ABH or GBH so let’s get the ENTIRE incident investigated.