From mind to head-butt

I find it strange that, while many have condemned Ic-Caqnu's reaction following verbal accusations levelled at him, many others have lambasted Marco Materazzi, not Zinadine Zidane, for his verbal abuse levelled at the French player. The irony is that in both cases, there was a violent physical reaction following a verbal offence.

In the first case, it seemed there were several persons claiming that the physical violence was uncalled for. Condemnation poured in from several quarters stating that the reaction was uncivilised.

On the other hand however, we witnessed letters empathising with Zizou and claiming that it was understandable for him to react that way. In my opinion, players of both Zidane's and Materazzi's calibre should be more professional on the pitch, especially during a World Cup final. Nonetheless, I believe that Zidane's reaction was a planned, exaggerated reaction totally unproportional to Materazzi's wrong acts. I believe football is 20 per cent footwork and 80 per cent work of the mind. I think Zidane misplaced the 80 per cent mind with 80 per cent head-butt.

Close, but still so far from what the beautiful game should be.