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After ending his career as a football player following the World Cup, legendary French national team midfielder Zinedine Zidane finally revealed the reason why he headbutted Italian player Marco Materazzi during the final match and was sent off the field, although the latter denied the accusations.
After the final match, there were numerous rumors in the press about what Materazzi said to the Frenchman, suggesting that he fell for the Italian's provocation. In an interview on Wednesday with the French television channel Canal Plus, Zidane revealed that Materazzi insulted his mother and sister throughout the game.
"He (Materazzi) kept repeating very unkind words about my mother and sister. At first, I tried to ignore it, but he didn't stop, so I couldn't leave it like that. I would rather have taken a punch in the face than listen to such words,"
Zidane said. Zidane also publicly apologized for his actions but stated that he had no other choice and had to defend his family's honor.
"It's unforgivable, I apologize. I have already apologized to all the children who watched the game. It wasn't a pretty sight, but I had no other way out. I know that millions of people watched the match, including many children, so I want to apologize to all of them. But I can't regret what I did because if I hadn't done it, it would mean that his words were true,"
the Frenchman said. The player also admitted that the match referee Horacio Elizondo was completely right in showing him a red card and sending him off the field. Moreover, Zidane once again confirmed during the interview that the match against Italy was his last in his career.
"After the match, I explained to the referee that I was provoked, but I don't justify my actions, and I think he behaved as any self-respecting referee would in such a situation. I have firmly decided and definitely do not intend to change my mind. That's it. I certainly won't play anymore,"
said the hero of the 1998 World Cup final. Meanwhile, Materazzi, speaking to the newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, denied saying anything about Zidane's mother: "I didn't say anything related to racism, religion, or politics. I didn't insult his mother. I lost my mother when I was 15, and talking about it still makes me emotional. Naturally, I didn't know that his mother was in the hospital, and I wish her all the best. Zidane is my hero, and I have always been fascinated by him."
