bahador_romeo

ZURICH, Switzerland - FIFA said Thursday it opened disciplinary proceedings against Marco Materazzi for his conduct in Italy's victory in the World Cup final. World soccer's governing body said it opened the investigation because of statements by France's Zinedine Zidane, who was sent off Sunday for head-butting Materazzi in the chest.

bahador_romeo

FIFA opens probe of Materazzi comments

Italy's soccer player Marco Materazzi holds the trophy to thousands of fans who waited for the soccer world champions at night in front of the team hotel in Duisburg, Germany, early Monday morning, July 10, 2006. Italy won the World Cup final against France in Berlin on Sunday.

FIFA said Thursday it opened disciplinary proceedings against Marco Materazzi for his conduct in Italy's victory in the World Cup final.

World soccer's governing body said it opened the investigation because of statements by France's Zinedine Zidane, who was sent off Sunday for head-butting Materazzi in the chest.

Zidane claimed he was provoked by insults from Materazzi, an Italian defender.

FIFA said it also summoned both players to attend a hearing of its disciplinary committee July 20. A decision is expected later that day.

FIFA declined to comment on possible punishments.

Zidane said in an interview with TF1 television Wednesday that his actions were in response to repeated harsh insults from Materazzi about his mother and sister, but did not go into specifics.

"The proceedings were initiated in the light of initial statements from French player Zinedine Zidane who ... has since indicated in an interview that his actions came in response to repeated provocation," FIFA said in a release.

Zidane has the right to make a written statement, which must be submitted by Tuesday. Materazzi then will be given a copy of the statement so he can respond.

Italy won Sunday's final 5-3 on penalties after the two teams were level at 1-1 after extra time.

Zidane — France's regular penalty taker — was sent off with 10 minutes of extra time remaining.

The two players exchanged words after Italy broke up a French attack. Zidane then lowered his head and rammed Materazzi in the chest, knocking him to the ground.

Materazzi insists he never insulted Zidane's mother. Materazzi also said Zidane deserves to keep his Golden Ball award, given to the best player at the World Cup, despite his actions in Sunday's final.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter had suggested that the 34-year-old French captain could be stripped of the title.

"He won it for what he did on the pitch," Materazzi told the Gazzetta dello Sport. "He was the best."

curtains

WTF?

Just because He insulted Zidanes Mom and SIster? So what? that happens everyday in every soccer game? Now that France Lost, They feel they need to punish italy someway ?


That is absurd !That is the case, i bet more than once INSULTING has happened in WC , so better go and ask every question in WC if they were insulted or not !

sokhangoo

man khodam tarafdare ITALIA hastam, vali hagheshe, martike, man jaye zidan boodam, zende nabood alan!!

>$3<

ghorbooneh adameh chiz fahm
tamameh faranse chiyeh, tamameh world cup yeh taraf, zidane ham yeh taraf...
dar zemn madareh zidane ghableh bazi sekteh zadeh boodeh va be bimarestan rafteh boodeh...

kako-shirazi

daghighan. az in insulta ta delet bekhad too baziyay football hast, makhsoosan inke WC ham bashe, digeh badtar. age harki bekhd mesle zidane roo ye insult be madaresh ya folan ... chenin vakoneshi neshoon bedeh,digeh hichi rahat too har baziye WC toopo bezaran kenar , shoroo konan 11 vs 11 kalle bezanan. team with most survivor win az in insulta pore too baziyay WC va bishtaresh ham ignore mishe. vali team france az in buffone va defensi ke italy dareh asabesh khord shode bood badjoor. zidane ham ghable kalle zadanesh, ye head badjoor zad, buffon badjoortar save kard. digeh hamey inaro roo ham jaam koni controlesho az dast dad. materazzi sar be saresh mizasht, zidane ham vel nakard bere , oftad too taleh.

alexox

Sorry, shoma az koja midoonid madaresho? mishe begid jeddi goftid ya na? va inke az koja ino migid? merC aziz

sokhangoo

khob hatman to news khoonde dige!!!

ekbatan

ajab maskhareh baziyee!

taze zidan mesle gaav in karo kard, hala materazzi bayad punish beshe....FRANCE NEEDS TO ACCEPT THE LOSS LIKE MEN