Crazy Soccer Headbutt in World Cup Final

[stormtruth]

Wow. The World Cup is more exciting than i thought. The French player Zidane headbutted an opponent.

Video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1i_l0OeeMc

More coverage here:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... 88&cc=5901
http://www.bloggersblog.com/cgi-bin/blo ... log=709061

Obviously, he was kicked out of the game. Italy won later in a penalty kick-off.

[tropicana]

I saw it. It was the "heat of the moment" re-action to probably something that was said to him.
It was really a shame for him.

World Cup Soccer 2010 is going to be in South Africa.

-justin-

[stormtruth]

I saw it. It was the "heat of the moment" re-action to probably something that was said to him.
It was really a shame for him.

World Cup Soccer 2010 is going to be in South Africa.

-justin-

yeah. I wish he wouldn't retire. He is an amazing player when he is under control.

[Janice]

Yes, I watched it too, really exciting. Will the guy who got kicked off the field get a medal too?

[stormtruth]

Yes, I watched it too, really exciting. Will the guy who got kicked off the field get a medal too?

Good question. I think just the winners get the World Cup Trophy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Cup_trophy

[HurricaneGirl]

Wow! that wasn't very nice.. the other dude must have really said something to piss him off!

[bvigal]

"Italy won later in a penalty kick-off."
And that's how I'll remember 2006 World Cup - all about penalties, ejections, histrionics, bad refs. Games not won by skill, but by fouls, pretend fouls, and unnecessary shortages of players.

[Derek Ortt]

well, France wa slucky not to have two other players sent off in the same OT for flying elbows (the same type that earned the Italian player who was hit with one of them a 4 game suspension for that hit against McBride)

[bvigal]

Yes, that was dirty play, to be sure!

[P.K.]

The elbow on McBribe was the worst in the tournament. However remember that the refs are having to be careful due to certain players trying to say they are elbowed when they are not. Now Zidane did deserve to go off in ET however there is a big question over who made the decision. If the ref or linesmen don't see it they are not allowed to use video replays to look at it. FIFA will of course say that one of the officials saw it but the time it took I doubt it... If they did use video replays then the sending off would actually have been illegal.

[Stratosphere747]

Word is P.K. that the 4th official seen the butt and told the linesman while the head official was dealing with things on the field.

Also the vast majority of the fans didn’t see the butt, hence all the booing against Italy after the red was shown.

Amazing how ZZ was about 30min away from being in the same breath of the all-time greats, and now the lasting image will be this.

[Derek Ortt]

the elbow right before the headbutt was definately a red card offense, IMO, but the ref missed that one.

Also, a French player could have picked up a second yellow right after he headbutt. I was shocked that they would play like that in OT of the World Cup Final

[TexasStooge]

Crazy!

Talk about a sore loser.

[nholley]

He deserved to go but I would have done the same thing under the circumstances. It seems that a reference was made about his mother or sister and that made him see red. A sad way for one of the worlds great players to end his career.

[stormtruth]

It seems Zidane was called a "dirty terrorist" by Italy's Materazzi.

France captain Zinedine Zidane was apparently called a "dirty terrorist" by Marco Materazzi before he head-butted the Italy defender in Sunday's World Cup final, the anti-racism group SOS Racism said on Monday.

"According to several very well informed sources from the world of football, it would seem that the Italian player Marco Materazzi called Zinedine Zidane a 'dirty terrorist'," SOS Racism said in a statement.

That's pretty low to call someone that. here is the Reuters story

[Aquawind]

Good Foot but small brain. It's the World Cup and your tied! Then he is praised for his play... LOL Foolishness..

[Aslkahuna]

On the video, I saw of the incident, the French commentator was totally stunned saying the French equivalent of WTF Why?

Steve

[P.K.]

Word is P.K. that the 4th official seen the butt and told the linesman while the head official was dealing with things on the field.

They have to say that though or they have broken their own rules. It is not just me who is suspicous about this as they were talking about it all afternoon on the radio.

He is just saying "and why, and why, and why, " and I bet he carried on saying that for ten minutes.

[vbhoutex]

"Italy won later in a penalty kick-off."
And that's how I'll remember 2006 World Cup - all about penalties, ejections, histrionics, bad refs. Games not won by skill, but by fouls, pretend fouls, and unnecessary shortages of players.

I did not see all of the games by any stretch of the imagination, but I must pretty much agree with your statement. I am/was a certified soccer referee for several years. The offense was definitely a red card offense-in fact that is the first thing I said when I saw it. However, as stated, if none of the officials saw it(and I think we will never know for sure)then the send off was indeed illegal, even though it was warranted by the behavior. Past that, and we do have the advantge of cameras that the officials didn't, I saw some really lousy calls and non-calls when officials were present. The histrionics are ridiculous, but unfortunately have become a part of the game in order to gain advantage.

Sad that he had to react that way even though most people would if the trash talk was as stated. Whether professional atletes like it or not, they need to act professional even under those circumstances, especially if their behavior will jeapordize the team and its chances at victory. I in no way think the trash talk was ok, but his reaction was not imo, at least not during the game. JMHO

[JQ Public]

Crazy!

Talk about a sore loser.

at the time he headbutted the italian they weren't losing they were tied.