Zidane would 'rather die' than apologise
France legend Zinedine Zidane says he would "rather die" than apologise to Marco Materazzi for his infamous headbutt of the Italian defender in the 2006 World Cup final.
"I will ask forgiveness from football, from supporters, from the team..," he told Spain's El Pais newspaper published today.
"After the match, I entered the dressing room and I told them 'I'm sorry. It won't change anything, but I'm asking for your forgiveness.'
"But as for him (Materazzi) I cannot. Never, never... It would be dishonourable... I would rather die."
After a verbal altercation, Zidane was sent off for headbutting Materazzi during the World Cup final in Berlin, which France eventually lost in a penalty shoot-out.
"A lot of things happen on the pitch," he told El Pais. "That sort of thing happens to me quite a lot. But in this case I couldn't contain myself.
"It's not an excuse, but my mother was ill, she was in hospital. More than once they have insulted my mother and I said nothing. But in this case ..."
Zidane retired from professional football after the tournament and now works as an advisor to Real Madrid chairman Florentino Perez.
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Lisa Schembri
Mar 3rd 2010, 16:49
Men are such cry babies
Alfred Camilleri
Mar 2nd 2010, 21:09
Benedict Borg. Are you sure you don't have in mind very dubious decisions by referees in previous world cups, in finals to boot, say those infamous once of 1966 and 1990.
I follow this blog. I think that I have a very good idea what Benedict Borg is all about.
benedict borg
Mar 2nd 2010, 19:53
@ George pace
Yes, I know. It happens every time, doesn't it? At home and abroad.
George Pace
Mar 2nd 2010, 17:21
@ Benedict Borg.
Refer to World Cup 2002 for some very strange refereeing decisions involving... Italy.
Benedict Borg
Mar 2nd 2010, 15:54
@Neville Arpa
Not really - but I do think Italy won the World cup because of some very dubious decisions by referees during the earlier matches, e.g. vs Australia (remember the 95th minute invented by ref Luis Medina Cantalejo?) As for Zidane's head butt - if you follow Italian football you would know what Materazzi is all about.
Tonio Magro
Mar 2nd 2010, 13:24
@Mr Bonnici......Are You Italian?? U Used The Word We!! Joke Of The Day
Jeremy J Camilleri
Mar 2nd 2010, 12:02
Christian Bonnici...MALTA winning a world cup final? I must have missed it!!!!!!!!!!!
Neville Arpa
Mar 2nd 2010, 01:23
@ Benedict Borg So you think that France failed to win because Zizou was sent off in the last two mins of the game? what guarantee do you have that the outcome would have been different if Zidane was one of the penalty takers? Penalties are penalties Mr.Borg.
C. Bonnici
Mar 1st 2010, 22:30
So Zidane is such a CHEAP man that he lets himself go by a simple provocation .. God knows how many he said during his career!!! well done ZIZOUUU..we won the World Cup while you were asking forgiveness to your colleagues. Your excuse will not make any difference in the life of Materazzi..he demolished you and your team on that WARM MEMORABLE SUMMER NIGHT...but it will make a difference in your life as it shows what type of person you are!
Brian Farrugia
Mar 1st 2010, 21:26
Zidane should apologise to the entire French Nation, he lost the nation the world cup. Offensive banter goes on in every game, he lost his cool, he lost the world cup.
Alfred Camilleri
Mar 1st 2010, 21:07
Benedict Borg. You are wrongly assuming, as so many did at the time, that France would have won the World Cup had Zidane not been sent off. How sure are you that France would have scored the winning goal in the eleven minutes of play left from Zidane's dismissal, or that he would have scored the winning penalty? Facts are: France lost the world cup because they scored only 4 penalties to Italy's 5. Italy thus became world champions.
What exactly do you mean by your second sentence? I choose to believe that you didn't expect Zidane to commit violence on Materazzi after the match had ended. And what if France had still lost, how would revenge have been obtained?
Oliver P. Vassallo. What's so great and honourable about a person who commits such violence on a fellow human being? Or are you venting your frustation for Italy's win, by condoning such brutal behaviour by probably an equally frustrated ,unruly Zidane?
Oliver P. Vassallo
Mar 1st 2010, 16:28
Well pronounced M. Zidane. You are not only a great footballer but a great honourable MAN!
Benedict Borg
Mar 1st 2010, 16:13
But it wasn't worth losing the crown of Champions was it? You should have humored him and then got your full revenge after the match.