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.