What Materazzi said to Zidane

Report: Materazzi discloses his World Cup insult
August 18, 2007

MILAN, Italy (AP) -- Italy defender Marco Materazzi finally disclosed what he said to Zinedine Zidane in the World Cup final that provoked the French star to retaliate with a head-butt.

"I prefer the whore that is your sister," Materazzi said during an interview in next week's edition of Italian magazine TV Sorrisi E Canzoni, according to Italian news reports Saturday. He previously acknowledged he had insulted Zidane's sister.

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Zidane head-butted Materazzi in the chest with 10 minutes left in last year's final. He was sent off for violent conduct, ending his stellar career with a red card.

Italy went on to win the game in a penalty-kick shootout after the score was 1-1 after extra time.

Materazzi, who received a two-game ban for incitement, has since apologized to Zidane.

France coach Raymond Domenech this month lauded Materazzi's strategy for getting Zidane sent off.

"I say 'bravo' to him," the coach said.

What did Zidane ask him? What is your favourite type of whore?

It's strange that Zizou saw fit to ask this in a world cup final.

Materazzi tucked his shirt and Zidane said: "you can have my shirt after the game if you want it". That's when Materazzi said what he said.

I can't see how this is an issue. Anyone who's played any type of high-tempo physical sports nows that there's a lot of trashtalking, and much worse than this. And I wouldn't have it any other way.
Its not even necessarily macho, its about trying to get your opponent riled, shocked or in any way off his game. Mindgames (of the poorest sort though, mind you).

Let's just be grateful that in this day and age there wasn't some sort of puritanical outrage and backlash.

Zidane was tired and lost his head... if he was fit in the final he didn't even hear what marco was saying!

Materazzi did nothing wrong!

I'll never understand why Zizou did this, if he said something racially offensive then maybe but insulting his sister, I'm sure a lot of players get much worse than that

Luis wrote:I'll never understand why Zizou did this, if he said something racially offensive then maybe but insulting his sister, I'm sure a lot of players get much worse than that

I think i would be more offended if someone insulted my sister, than if they were racially offensive. Still dumb reaction considering the circumstances.

For god's sake is this man supposed to be straight outta the rough streets of Marseille?

you get jeers like that every minute on the pitch if you play at hackney marshes or w/e - surely Zidane would be used to it