Fifa opens inquiry over Materazzi

[ozone_man]

Fifa opens inquiry over Materazzi

Fifa has begun disciplinary proceedings against Marco Materazzi in light of his conduct in the World Cup final.
France skipper Zinedine Zidane was sent off in extra-time for headbutting Italy defender Materazzi in the chest.

Italy went on to win the title in a penalty shoot-out, but Zidane has since said he reacted to repeated provocation from his opponent.

Fifa has summoned both players to attend a hearing of its disciplinary committee on Thursday 20 July.

A decision is expected later that day.

Zidane said in an interview on French television that his actions were in response to repeated harsh insults from Materazzi about his mother and sister, but did not go into specifics.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/italy/5177140.stm

[Orrex]

1. My Materazzi does one-eighty-five

nyuk nyuk nyuk

I gotta million of 'em!

[Nikki Stone 1]

4. Groan.

:)

[Orrex]

5. Thank you, thank you

:hi:

[Nikki Stone 1]

7. I know... you're here all week, try the veal.

:D

[Orrex]

32. And be sure to tip the waitstaff

Those kids gotta earna living, dontcha know!

[Buzz Clik]

2. An inquiry over insults on the field?

gawd. Pussies.

[ozone_man]

3. I say a little head butting should settle that.

But to allow one without the other is unfair.

[Amonester]

11. In *bad* ol' Hockey... They would have *settled* that the ...

Rocket Richard way:

Five minutes each for fightin'
Ten minutes each mis-conduct (maybe)

And on with the game! :D

[ohiosmith]

6. I've said before, and I'll say it again, soccer players should wear

skirts on and off the field. Yea, yea, footballers and pitch!

[insane_cratic_gal]

8. Maybe but

As a football fan, I've been converted to love soccer.


It has a grace and excitement football just doesn't have. Football is all overweight muscle bound tanks.

Soccer, is sure footed skipping over a ball then sinking it into a goal at 80 mph. There no commercials!! The action is pretty much non stop.

I dunno but after watching the world cup for the first time. I'll be hard pressed to be amused by football this season.

[ozone_man]

12. True athleticism.

For all the reasons you mentioned. I just wish there was less diving and other foul play like what messed up the final. The refereeing seems to be getting better though. Not a regular soccer watcher, but every four years, when the World Cup comes on, I like to see some cleaner play than this. I care less about who wins, it's the excellent soccer that's fun to watch.

[insane_cratic_gal]

14. I agree

but apparently dives and rolls are all part of the game. But when done in excessive quantity it does detract from the beauty of the game. Skidding onto the ground when no one has touched you, screaming bloody murder while peeking one eye open to see if the refs see you, is just ugly.

For the first time I understand the national obsession with soccer, I only regret that I will not get to see it ever year and will have to settle for our US team (who looked like a bunch of boys going against full grown men out there, by little fault of their own and more of the coach's)
MLS soccer might has well be at college level. It's still fun, but it lacks the quality that Rooney showed how he'd literally fight for that ball,or Zidane's magic with his feet (nm his head). There was Brazil's Ronaldinho inventiveness with creating a opportunity. Germany had a young star striker Podolski and elder Klose played like they've played together a 1,000 times before. There were big names and big stars, but truly was a team effort.

I was equally impressed with lesser known players or those who didn't get quite the attention.

Over all, It's made a fan of soccer with a deep appreciation for the sport.

But unlike other countries I have no undying loyalty to a national team, that's the beauty of it; I can love soccer for the game and it's ability to cross national borders without pledging my support to just one team. I do have my favorites though!

I'm already looking forward to 2010

[gula]

19. Don't you mean interational and/or world-wide

For the first time I understand the "national" obsession with soccer. It seensa to me that the US is one of the very few countries not taking any interest in football. (The real one that is actually played with the feet.)

I do agree with your other comments. I was so dissapointed by the finals. (I only saw the regular time). Honestly, the Italian way of playing sucks big time. I only hope that Materazzi(sp) gets banned from professional hockey for life. And withany luck Italy will lose the cup.

In the meantime "Zizou" forever.

[insane_cratic_gal]

23. Yes, International

I don't' think Americans (myself included) were really sold on the idea of Football, as a game of solidarity of a country. Which we lack, as you well know.

After all, we have football players that are sold to us "As the best in the world" and yet they have never played another nation? Once they beaten every other state, their little best of the best is not a world cup, its a silly little publicity stunt. (like the All Star game).

Say what you will of my tripping tongue, I don't think Italy should loose the cup (and not the stanley =p) Nor that Mats gets banned, but I believe Karma takes care of such matters. Oh, but I get it, your insulting me.. Ah well.. so be it. I can stand a little harassment

But yes in the mean time Zizou forever. He helped me fall in love with soccer, I have him to thank for that.

Was it wrong of me to want France to win to humiliate every freeper for their French Fry ban? j/k

[ozone_man]

25. Not wrong at all.

That was one of my hopes too.

Was it wrong of me to want France to win to humiliate every freeper for their French Fry ban?

I don't really have any favorites though. I would have enjoyed seeing an African country like Ghana make it to the finals. France also has a very ethnically diverse team. One more reason.

Having said that, I enjoyed watching Italy score a few late game goals against Portugal. I didn't see the Italy/Australia game, but it was apparently a dive by Grosso near the end game that decided that game. Some games are clean, others not. It's still a great game. True athleticism. And the only break in action at half time makes it easy to avoid the commercials.

[gula]

35. I am sorry if you felt insulted

It was not my intention. All I can say that English is not my mothertongue and I may have misspoken. Sorry for that.

[Bridget Burke]

43. The Houston Chronicle's John Lopez has some ideas for MLS....

Portugal, a nation with barely half the population of Texas, advanced to the semifinals of the World Cup. Ghana, a small nation that has fought disease and war and whose citizens have a life expectancy of just 56, topped the Americans convincingly and moved on.

Yet the United States, a nation of 300 million, with more and better athletic resources, infrastructure, science and technology than any country in the world, cannot win a match or score more than one goal.

www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/soc/2006/4030072.html

I'm not a big sports fan, but I've followed the last few World Cups.

[KamaAina]

29. You mean it used to be worse?!

The refereeing seems to be getting better though.

Three men sent off in USA-Italy. Four in Netherlands-Portugal! Italy's potential winner in the final ruled offside; had it held up, there would have been no Headbutt. Even the Headbutt itself may have been called by officials looking at the replay (a strict no-no); look how long it took them to deliver Zidane his red card.

Maybe the Seattle Seahawks would have better luck if they joined MLS... :eyes:

[ozone_man]

31. I think most of the bad refs were weeded out

during the qualification rounds. I'm not the expert when it comes to soccer or refs, just from reading FIFA press releases. That offsides was a close one. I couldn't tell myself. I'd have to look at a slow motion replay a few times. To offset that, there was another trip in the goal zone committed by Italy that if called, would probably have yielded another goal for France. A lot of what ifs.

I think in regards to simulations, diving, the refereeing has gotten better. Still far to go. If the refs could use a replay to red card Zidane, why couldn't they find out what Materazzi said to provoke that response and red card him too? That would have been fair. Issuing a penalty a week after the game is kind of late, though better late than never.

[T_i_B]

9. No, just Christiano Ronaldo

He is going to get ripped so bad next season!

http://www.ronaldo-is.com/

[insane_cratic_gal]

10. He deserves it!

I was rooting for germany just so that asshole would go home a loser!


Say what you will about Rooney but he has the short end of the stick 1 striker against 4 defenders? Ugh I'd of crunched someone's balls too

[meow2u3]

37. Did you know Cristiano Ronaldo is named for Saint Ronnie Raygun?

No wonder he's an asshole. Right wing--he gives the Portuguese a bad name.

Just take a look yourselves: http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/w/player/201200_CRISTIANO_RONALDO.html
OMG! They scrubbed that info from the site.

[Generarth]

38. Christiano sounds like he's named after an ancient sect leader to me n/t

[DemsRBetterLovers]

13. He is a professional athlete

If he cant take another athlete's insult, let alone 100,000 screaming fans, then he shouldnt be on the field. Lord knows I've threatened many a baseball players death with my season tickets at Angel's stadium, regardless of if I know the player's family or not. All this teaches young athletes is that it is ok to violently assault another person during a game (even at the highest level).

While I dont think Zidane is a "terrorist", he definately set the game of soccer back many years. Soccer, internationally, has been a way of transfering nationistic furver in positive constructive ways. The african teams are a prime example of this (I am a huge Ivory Coast fan), and the US should take head of this lesson.

[slestak]

16. And all your threats shouted at baseball players . . .

. . . teach young sports fans that such behavior is acceptable.

Zidane shouldn't be made a poster boy for bad athletes. Stuff like this happens in hockey and no one gets their panties in a wad about it. And I wasn't down on that field, but I'll still guarantee that Materazzi's one-liner that earned him the headbutt wasn't the first thing he'd said to Zidane that day.

As soon as Materazzi hit the ground he grabbed his ankle. Hooray for soccer.

Anyway, I don't see how you being a ticket holder gives you a free pass to be a complete ass to anyone, even if they play for the other team.

[DemsRBetterLovers]

21. there is a difference between

being an athlete and being a spectator. I have never once seen a profession baseball player let any gruff from a person in the stands affect their game. the things i shout at baseball games are pale in comparison to anything said at a Red Sox-Yankees game. Their are ushers who will remove you rom Angel's stadium if your taunts are too vulgar, it is still a Disney sponsered company after all. And being aticket holder does grant me the right to heckle the opposing team, though it limits me from headbutting them.

I have been in games where opposing players have taunted me. I, however, never followed through with any of my thoughts of hitting someone. In this case, Zidane not only disrespected everyone on the field, but the entire country of France. Athletes who represent entire countries should be held to strict standards. Soccer is the only sport that can cause all out riots, even when its not the world cup. I'm sure Zidane's actions led to a few brawls off the field.

[slestak]

24. There is a difference

between athletes and spectators, but disrespectful behavior is still just that, no matter who's responsible.

Was Zidane in the right? No. Do I blame him? No.

Zidane's headbutt is a blip on the radar. It's nothing compared to the racist stunts pulled by some of the club teams over the past few years.

[BuddhaGirl]

34. maybe YOU haven't seen it but it's certainly happened.

"I have never once seen a profession baseball player let any gruff from a person in the stands affect their game."

A couple of seasons ago, a team (can't remember who) was playing the A's in Oakland. One of the visiting team's players (again, can't remember who) had been enduring ongoing heckling from the stands. He ended up throwing a chair into the stands and broke a woman's nose, who later sued, I believe. I saw this on television. Now what kind of example does that set for youngsters, hmmmmm?

[insane_cratic_gal]

17. You can't be serious or at least not completely?

Calling one's mother and sister a prostitute over and over again on the field, for what was it, over 110th min, In a stiff competition has got to take it's toll on you. That would get your severally beaten by a line of line backers in the NFL

Materazzi was interviewed before the game stating he wasn't gunning for Zidane he was leaving that up to Gattuso. When Gattuso didn't seem to have the heart or will to take out Zidane, Materazzi started taking over by talking trash, hoping to provoke him.

Was Zidane wrong to give in to it? We could debate that back and forth, but there are two offenders here. One who baited the fish and the fish who fought back.

[mark414]

18. oh lord

so one action by one player in one game sets the game back many years?

bullshit

what really sets the game back is all the diving and cheating. assholes like cristiano ronaldo set this game back.

quit looking for a scapegoat

[coalition_unwilling]

15. Whatever happened to "sticks and stones may break my bones . . ."?

[gula]

20. What's with this boys will be boys sh**

They are grown men and maybe it is time that they start behaving as such. While Zizou gave a very elegantly phrased apology on French TV, I have yet to hear anything ressembling even the least bit intelligent from what's his name. "I am too uneducated to know what terrorist means", pleeeaze.

Maybe that's why the only sports I watch are "LE MONDIAL" and women's hockey (the Canbadian team) at the olympics

[ozone_man]

22. In a perfect world perhaps.

But some people have lower thresholds than others when it comes to repeated verbal insults. There is no excuse for this sort of behavior in a World Cup game, let alone the final game. No one should have to tolerate this behavior and it goes against FIFA's code of fair play. Let's see if they stand by their own rules. If Zidane got a red card, what does Materazzi get? Rewarded for playing dirty soccer?

4. Respect opponents, team-mates, referees, officials and spectators

Fair Play means respect. Respect is part of our game. Without opponents there can be no game. Everyone has the same rights, including the right to be respected. Team-mates are colleagues. Form a team in which all members are equal. Referees are there to maintain discipline and Fair Play. Always accept their decisions without arguing, and help them to enable all participants to have a more enjoyable game. Officials are also part of the game and must be respected accordingly. Spectators give the game atmosphere. They want to see the game played fairly, but must also behave fairly and with respect themselves.

7. Reject corruption, drugs, racism, violence, gambling and other dangers to our sport

Football’s huge popularity sometimes makes it vulnerable to negative outside interests. Watch out for attempts to tempt you into cheating or using drugs. Drugs have no place in football, in any other sport or in society as a whole. Say no to drugs. Help to kick racism and bigotry out of football. Treat all players and everyone else equally, regardless of their religion, race, sex or national origin. Show zero tolerance for gambling on games in which you participate. It negatively affects your ability to perform and creates the appearance of a conflict of interests. Show that football does not want violence, even from your own fans. Football is sport, and sport is peace.

http://www.fifa.com/en/fairplay/fairplay/0,1256,12,00.html

[IronLionZion]

26. I'm likely the only non-French person in the world who supports Zidane

racist words about your middle eastern mother can hurt just as much as a head butt to the chest. repeating shit like this for too long gets very irritating and I would react violently too.

This is the openly racist continent of Europe, people. Where the Frankfurt airport has only 1 toilet for the asian/african terminal and lots of toilets for the european/american terminal. If your connecting flight in Brussels is delayed 24 hours and you don't have a western passport...you just can't leave the airport.

[insane_cratic_gal]

27. You can make it two now

I support him, I don't hold his actions against him.

I had suspected he was of middle eastern descent, when they said his mother was called a terrorist. (I guess I am slow to figure things out since I only made such a leap yesterday (lol)

Being new to enjoying football, I hadn't looked into the stars background, but I think you just confirmed it for me. I was more mesmerized by his uncanny ability with the ball then what gene pool he came from. Too bad that Maz had to be a putz and use a vile insult to win a game.

[fshrink]

33. This US/French

completely seconds that. And wants to add that it is not a matter of persons. Again, since Berlusconi shaped the Italian soccer through bribery, fixing and dirty tactics like this one, it has become a sort of institution. While other mediterranean teams, including South American teams, have enormously improved their behaviors and while other "cold" teams, such as Germany, have become more lively and creative, Italy has evolved from "zero-zeristi" to pure bushist spirit. This team and soccer in general deserve better than this miserable trend.

[gula]

36. Sorry but there are at least two of us

They played a good part of the interview Zidane gave on French TV on Radio Canada. He came across as a real class act.
Vive Zizou

[bicentennial_baby]

40. I'm with ya

:thumbsup:

[zara]

28. Disciplined or not, Materazzi got the greatest player ejected

and so he was the winner, disciplined or not. Zidane blew it. Understandable or not. His team needed him in order to win. Zidane knows this. It is his shame as the greatest player of his generation, to have not been able to wait another 20 minutes to get back at Materazzi.

[ozone_man]

30. That's true.

But do we want the world premier soccer event to be determined by how well players can react to continual harassemnt and racist comments? Or should we expect to focus more on athletics and good sportmanship?

The same applies to other detractions like players diving that results in penalty kicks. I think it would be so much better if there were no penalty shoot outs. It's nothing more than a lottery. They should call it a tie as it really is and schedule another game to decide the winner. At least for the semifinal and final games. My pet peeve.

[The Stranger]

39. I think who "won" in all of this is yet to be seen.

Let the disciplinary investigation run its course, and let history be the judge of racists and bigots.

[ozone_man]

41. Amen.

I just wanted to watch some good clean soccer. Maybe in 2010 we'll see some.

[Buzz Clik]

42. It was soccer, not a run for class president

Italy won, in part, because Mr. Golden Ball blew his cool.

[The Stranger]

45. Jimmy the Greek wasn't running for class president.

What is he remembered for?

[kryckis]

44. Materazzi..

..is a crazy f*ck. Italian, French, whatever, he is loco. Had Zidane knocked over Del Piero or Buffoon the world would question Zidane's sanity. But it was Materazzi. No body blames him.

Zidane knew he was going out, he should have just punched him in the face instead.