Zinedine Zidane insulted on religious or ethnic grounds?

Latest: Read Apology of Zidane here! BBC LINK





Given the importance of the last game for Zidane in yesterday's world cup football final, Zidane's deliberate heading of Marco Materazzi after he had said something to him, appears to be the response a very personal insult. The fact that he reacted to an insult was confirmed already in the media by co-player Gallas, but it could also be seen in the footage of the incident (albeit not heared).

There are several possibilities of what could have been said.

1.) An insult relating to Zidane's religious identity.

2.) An insult against Zidane being Arab, Algerian or French Algerian.

3.) An insult regarding Zidane's age and final game.

4.) A more general insult.

Whilst Zidane did not compose himself byreacting in the way he did, his
career did not end with a bad act. Especially if the insult was one relating to
his identity Zidane defended his honor in a telling way against a possibly
very foul mannered if not racist comment by Materazzi. Unconfirmed reports in the French Press as well as in the UK Daily mail states he may have been called something like "You Fucking Terrorist!," pointing at Zidane Muslim identity.*
The world cup was let by campaigns against racism (players held a slogan before many games of the FIFA campaign against Racism), Zidane's career was further one symbolized by his success for France as a member of the French Algerian community.

So if Zidane set the record straigh to an insulting Italian captain I think he may have left in all honors, namely prompting FIFA to likewise react to racial insult on the soccer ground. It must be pretty frustrating if you were seen to be a symbol of an Algerian making it for French football for 15 years and on the last day of your career you are still seen as a fucking Arab. Fuck Materazzi for that, he is the real bastard if the rumours are true. The heading was well desrved in that case.

In my opinion in a just world both players ought to see consequences.


It is likely that a statement will either soon appear in the press, or via Zidane's official web-site!

Inspite of the incident Zidane has received the Golden Ball award, as the best player of the 2006 world-cup.


Zidane
Algier
Algeria
France
Italia
Racism
world-cup
zizou

* "f.......g" emphasis added