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He is human too

There is no doubt that 2006 will be remembered as Zizou's World Cup (editorial "A sporting hero of our times," July 14). It was Zinedine Zidane who took his team from nadir to zenith in this World Cup. He is the greatest player France has ever produced. Italian player Marco Materazzi's foul words made Zidane headbutt him in the chest. He deserves the Golden Ball award because he played some excellent football throughout the tournament. Zidane's action in the finals was certainly against the ethics of the game but his retribution came with the red card. Materazzi, on the other hand, has gone unpunished.

S. Rubeena Mubeen,
Bellary, Karnataka

Now we know that Materazzi provoked Zidane, who is a human being first. He acted like any normal person who gets infuriated when his self-esteem is attacked. He has apologised which proves he is a civilised man.

Farhat Amez,
New Delhi

Ironically, soccer lovers will remember Zidane for his headbutt rather than his extraordinary game. For a soccer wizard and maestro who fought against odds to become the mainstay of the French team, it must have been a painful moment. It is unlikely that Zidane would have taken recourse to such a move without reason.

V.J. Lawrence,
Bangalore

Zidane's action was disappointing and it sent shock waves through millions of soccer lovers. But in view of Materazzi's admission that he insulted the French player and Zidane's charge that the Italian insulted his loved ones it appears that he was not entirely wrong.

C.P. Chandra Das,
Coimbatore

Materazzi adopted cheap means to induce an opponent to act violently. When rude action is punishable, why should anyone using reprehensible language amounting to incitement not be taken to task?

S. Karthik Nadar,
Chennai

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