Blow of head of Zidane

The July 9th 2006, at the time of the finale of the football world cup opposing the France to the Italy with Berlin, Zinedine Zidane, captain of the team of France and disputing her last match as a professional, was illustrated while striking a blow of head to the Thorax of a player of the opposing team, Marco Materazzi which would have insulted it. Médiatisé, this blow of head gave place has many interrogations in France on the reasons for the act. An investigation was started by the International federation of football association (FIFA) into this subject. The mediatization also gave place to many parodies and mockeries.

The content of the remarks of the Italian player fed from many speculations but it is only one year after the facts that its contents were officially revealed by Marco Materazzi itself. Zidane having said to him: “If you want really my shirt, I give it to you after the match” (Materazzi drew on its shirt), Materazzi answered him: “I prefer your whore of sister”.

Initially last unperceived with the eyes of the referee, the fault of Zidane was worth an expulsion to him on red Carton when it was announced.

Facts

With the 107 min the 40 two teams are with equality when the incident occurs. After a corner, the players will replace themselves. Materazzi, near to Zidane at this moment, draws the shirt from this one. After a short exchange of words, the French player moves away a few meters in front of Materazzi, then made volte face and advances towards this last. 107min 52 it then carries a blow of head to him to the chest. The incident, not noticed by the referee principal Mr. Elizondo, was announced by one of the referees assistants, Mr. Cantalejo, fourth referee of the match, having seen the gesture, probably on a video monitor. Once warned Mr. Elizondo leaves the red paperboard, expelling Zinedine Zidane with the 110e minute of the meeting, at the same time starting again the polemic on the arbitration assisted by video.

Only two photographs have summers taken, one too early, the other too late.

Context

Whereas the event can seem to be only one anecdote, the context in which it is product contributed to increase the importance that one granted to him. The situation is indeed exceptional:

the act is held Football world cup finally, i.e. at the time of a spectacle extremely mediatized in the whole world. Who more is in a match whose result is by no means played at time of the blow of head.
the act is not visible on line by the televiewers, the principal cameras being directed on the phase of play at the other end of the ground.
It is the fact of Zinedine Zidane, universally famous footballer become a true icon even apart from the medium of the sport.
Lastly, and especially, it intervenes whereas the captain of the team of France east about to take its retirement.

The player had announced that it would cease his career in end of the competition, and least elimination would thus have precipitated this one. However, against all the forecasts, the French selection arrives finally. The possibility of an exit on a victory, thus bringing second star to the French shirt is not excluded any more. The blow of head puts an end to this hope, and causes the retirement of its author in a completely unexpected way. Zidane leaves football on a red paperboard, 14th of its career.

Reactions

In France

In France, the event immediately is very médiatisé, even surmediatized. The fault made on Materazzi does not come only from the captain of the team of France, it is also that of a player become a true symbol in its country.

To the not very enthusiastic departure in front of the results of their team, the French gradually went back to believe in a possible success. Successive victories against the Spain, the Brésil, and the Portugal created the surprise as well as the hope of a final victory. The exclusion of Zidane, with which it France must already of many goals in this competition, makes the effect of an electric shock. Generally calm, in his public interventions, the French footballer is not known general public for his sanguine constitution, which however already appeared on the ground in addition.

The gesture raises especially a question which makes the topicality quickly: Why? What is it says between the Italian and the French who led Zinedine Zidane to strike Materazzi? The answer will not come explicitly, even when, three days later, the former player answers an interview of Michel Denisot recalling his career on the chain Canal+.

The incident becomes in the country important extensive: surveys are carried out to know the opinion of the French on the attitude of “Zizou”. According to a study of SCUMS the Tuesday the 11th, 61% of the questioned people say “to forgive” the French leader, and 78% approve its election like better player of the world 2006 by the FIFA (election however former to the course of the finale).

Several personalities of the world of football were expressed on the act of Zidane:

Guy Roux (after the final whistle): Since the platforms, I did not see the gesture of Zidane. I re-examined it on television. It is an inexcusable gesture. I do not know what Materazzi could say to him. I ask that an investigation be opened

Raymond Domenech (at the end of the match): Materazzi, it is the man of the match, it is not Pirlo. To make finish (Zidane) EC manner, it is sad. It made a great career, a great World cup. When one takes as hanging 1:20 to him and that the referee nicely lets make, one includes/understands. One does not excuse, but one includes/understands.

Thierry Henry: About the Zidane-Materazzi incident, I do not know what it occurred, but I am almost sure that the assisting referee did not see what it occurred. .

In Italy

Victorious, Italy does not grant as well importance to the “Zidane business” as with its own success. The question of the responsibilities, to know what was precisely said thus seems a concern before any Frenchwoman. It should be said that Italy, at the time of the championship victory of the World, is empêtrée in the scandals of the faked matches; large stables of Calcio are implied. The championship of the world intervenes at the best time, and makes it possible Italy to regild its blazon.

On the other hand, after the decision of FIFA on this business (in addition to the suspension of Marco Materazzi for two international matches, the president of the FIFA Joseph Blatter did not give the trophy to Italian, and it was the president of the UEFA, Lennart Johansson, which did it), the Italian press is put in “anger” by regarding a little this decision as an injustice and a discrimination. The Italian minister of sport even declares: “I include/understand those which considered the ceremony of handing-over of the trophy, and the decision of yesterday, like the signs of a discriminatory attitude towards Italy”.

Causes of the incident

The assumptions on the words exchanged between the French and the Italian were numerous: they would have is insults aiming at the mother of Zidane, or treating the mother of Zinedine Zidane of terrorist. The possibility that racist remarks were uttered is evoked in the press (in particular the British press), but the two implied players will deny thereafter that was the case.

During an emission of July 12th, 2006, symbolically eight years day for day after the championship victory of the World, where it was expressed, Zidane preferred not to repeat the words of Materazzi, being satisfied to say that had to see with his/her mother and her sister. This assertion is however disputed by Italian, who says to have insulted only the sister of the French (what was confirmed by sources the such magazine Paris Match having consulted specialists in labial reading).

Consequences

Beyond the expulsion of the captain of blue and media explosion concerning the subject, the blow of head of Zidane gave place to an investigation of FIFA.

Zidane and Materazzi had to be explained on the reasons for the dispute, without to manage a complete agreement on the made remarks. Without raising the mystery on what really occurred, the procedure made it possible to clarify certain points.

The investigation was interested in the question in the way in which the incident was announced. The French selector Raymond Domenech indeed supported that the fault of Zinedine Zidane had not been seen by the assisting referee but had been noted afterwards thanks to the video. If such had been the case, there would have been nonlawful introduction of the video arbitration, system always refused by the FIFA.

However, after investigation, the FIFA confirmed that the blow of head of Zidane had been seen by the fourth referee without this one having recourse to the video. Nevertheless, a counter-evaluation shows that the fourth referee could not have seen the action directly.

A development concerning the exchanged words was also made, and Zidane as Materazzi cancelled the thesis of a racist matter.

The two players were finally sanctioned. French sees itself condemned to three matches of suspension and 4.750 euros of fine, Italian is him suspended for two official matches and will have to pay a sum of 3.200 euros. The sanction against Zidane is however symbolic system, the prohibition of ground not being very significant for a player with the retirement.

Influence

The blow of head having been very médiatisé, it also was very recovered, in particular to parody it. Modified images quickly appeared on Internet, showing for example the player destroying the Black Star of its blow of head, or exploding its head at the time of the shock. Other parodies are also available. A play was also put on line, where it is necessary to strike many Materazzi until expulsion.

The act is also at the origin of a song “ Coup of ball ” which takes again the parody of individual of Cauet “ Zidane there will mark ” and being ironical about the words “ Zidane it struck it, Zidane it typed it, the referee saw it on TV ”. The individual one arrives at the head of the sales in summer 2006, right in front of the parody of Cauet.

The expression " zidanette" was also invented to indicate a blow of head in the chest.

The topic was included in media in lines such as Webcomic.

Beyond phenomenon Internet, tee-shirts parodying the event appeared. Several television programs in the United States also parodied the event, the such show of Jay Leno as well as the animated series Griffin (In an episode, Zidane deliver a cake to an old woman, give him a blow of ball then tells him " Good anniversaire" French ).

On its side, Materazzi left one entitled book what I really said to Zidane , delivers which counts 249 sentences that it could have pronounced with regard to Zidane. The benefit of the sales is intended for UNICEF.

References

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