So... what did Materazzi say to Zidane?

[Caligula]

Listener suggestions on the Today programme were quite amusing. Along the lines of:

"Bung you a million if you headbut me"
"Make it five"
"OK, but not on my face".

The other one was along the lines of:

"Do you accept that the common agricultural policy favours French farmers disproportionately?"

Made me larf anyway. So what do you think he said?

Maybe he just thought "Sod it...it my last game...I've had enough" I supppose he's got nothing to lose if you think of it that way.

On the news a minute ago they said "something very serious" was said....

I thought Ribery played really well (throughout the whole world cup) - no doubt Arsenal will get him and he'll torment Chelsea next season.

Thought Abidal was pretty dire most games - wasn't sure if Sylvestre was in the squad or not but thought he would have been worth a try at least.

Didn't think it was a great world cup for football. A few memorable games but dogged by cheating, sending offs and generally defensive football.

poor poor sportsmanship

what a sad state of affairs to have so little respect for yourself or fellow human beings to do that in front of the whole world

No excuse for doing it but I can understand I think, as someone with a very short fuse . The tension must be incredible in that situation and he snapped. I did wonder if it was a rascist taunt...consenus of opinion at work was that it was about his sister..??? Why I don't know. Poor man... i really feel for him but as I say, no excuse.

I have no sympathy for the man at all, he is setting an example to millions and millions of viewers around the world on the biggest football stage their is and then you go and do something like that.

I don't care what was said to him or who it was about it never ever justifys this kind of reaction. If it did then players would be dropping like flys on the pitch because the nasty taunts etc are all part of the game, not a nice part but part of it all the same and he would have heard much worse before.

I was cheering for France all the way through especially after ZZ took the coolest penalty I have ever seen anyone take in a world cup let alone in the final and he played brilliantly. Then he became a common thug and I changed sides as I suspect a lot of neutrals did.

Well done Italy you have played the best football consistantly through out the tournament and deserve the trophy. Shame your domestic game is corrupt.

gutted

I have always had a soft spot for him like Spiroil () as cool name + gorge

a friend of mine works for the sun and was telling me that someone in the crowd shouted 'I hope your children get cancer' at some footballer once

nice

Someone on the radio just said they were with someone who could lip read and was told he insulted Zidane's sister.

off another board:

According to French sources, Materazzi said "I hope Jean suffered".
Jean Varraud was Zidane's first trainer and Zidane considered him his second father. He died from a long cancer battle just before the World Cup started.

not nice

but you don't butt opponents, oh sorry you can and still get the Golden Ball - cheaters and thugs don't prosper, unless FIFA are in charge....

Italy played the best football MY ARSE
Esp when de rossi smashed that american in the face you mean
or the best diving
the best shirt pulling
they suck almost every footy nation I know wanted anyone esel to win but Italy
FFS some people even supported the USA over them
Argentina and Spain played the best football closely followed by Ghana.

If you headbutt someone on the pitch then I think the 'victim' should have him charged for assault and let the courts assess if what he is alleged to have said was enough to provoke such an attack.

If it was a racist or a slur on his religion then personally I can understand why he did it.

football atm is exempt form criminal charges
Rugby has just undertaken to use the law to enforce serious disciplinary extremes of behaviour, so it will bge something FIFa has to look at, maybe one nation will lead by example perhaps.
I do think a sin bin, like rugby - temp exclusion from field of play would be a better way of dealing with more minor indiscretions in football
You can use an x number match ban but for Zizou... who will not play again means nothing..
And I think in some cases action outside the protective embrace of FIFA would be appropriate
Mind you they are hardly law abiding little pumpkins are they now

Really Piffle so if you lost an eye or something cos of an attack you could pursue the courts?

it's not exempt in this country from criminal charges lee bowyer was charged at newcastle and convicted?

but only as a public order offence in Lee Bowyers case
I do think civil culpability for on field violence should be absolutely uphel that Bowyer trial was a farce

We were speculating about this over dinner and I said that I thought wotsisname, Maserati, might have said "your mother was a [here I paused and looked at the children] bee-keeper"

We carried on chatting about it for a while then ds1 said "why would he be upset about his Mum being called a bee keeper?"

Dh also heard that it was something do do with Zidane being called a terrorist though that may just be speculation.

also the bowyer thing only got to the police due to members of the public complaining
The FA had shag all to do with it which is the crux of it all really
Bee keeping yes MM foul people

so now we know!

yes, yes, the moral and right pov is that he shouldn't have head-butted the Italian. but come on, MN-ers - half the people on this board seem prepared to head-butt people who park in P&T spaces in Sainsubry's car park! we can't have it both ways!!

They've just said on the news that Maserati (sorry, I know that's not really his name) said to Zidane..."I slept with your mother last night" and "your mother is an old Algerian whore."

Which sounds - in my limited experience - probably fairly typical football fodder but Zidane's mother was apparently taken into hospital on the morning of the Final and he is very close to her and thus very worried about her.

Tbh, I was of the opinion "it doesn't matter what he said...no excuse" and most of me still thinks that - he should have walked away.

But as dh just said "if I said that to someone...I'd kind of expect to get headbutted..."

Surely as a pro he should have learnt how to ignore sledging? I think it was a terrible shame he reacted like that and I also started supporting Italy after it.

My niece in Australia is 6 and is already being taught how to ignore sledging in her school sports classes. probably also being taught how to do it...

I doubt we'll ever know what was said: on newsnight there were four possible suggestions. I have a feeling that after putting up with racist remarks for his whole career, perhaps, with it being his final match, he just momentarily thought "oh fuck it" and went for the bloke. Not right, but I have some sympathy, and it doesn't take away the fact that he is one of the greatest footballers ever. So ner.

Shall we guess?

"You give your children Fruit Shoots..."

or

"yes but can you bring tablecloths?"

"You can come to my wedding but your tiddlypeeps have to stay at home..."