The Hindu : Front Page : It's Zinedine Zidane 3 and Marco Materazzi 2

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 21, 2006

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It's Zinedine Zidane 3 and Marco Materazzi 2

ZURICH: French football icon Zinedine Zidane was banned for three matches on Thursday for head-butting Italy's Marco Materazzi during the World Cup final on July 9. FIFA's Disciplinary Committee, which handed out the verdict, also banned Materazzi for two matches.

Zidane, who appeared before the committee in Zurich on Thursday, was fined 7,500 Swiss francs and Materazzi 5,000 francs after the committee heard the former French captain's version.

"FIFA gave both players the right to be heard in accordance with the FIFA Disciplinary Code. The hearing with Marco Materazzi was held at FIFA headquarters on July 14, with Zinedine Zidane questioned during today's meeting. In their statements, both players stressed that Materazzi's comments had been defamatory but not of a racist nature," FIFA said.

Zidane had said that Materazzi had insulted his mother and sister. The Italian defender had denied insulting Zidane's mother. "Both players also apologised to FIFA for their inappropriate behaviour and expressed their regret at the incident," said the statement.

"As Zidane has now retired from international football, the committee took note of Zidane's pledge to do three days of community service work with children and youngsters as part of FIFA's humanitarian activities. Materazzi was suspended for two official matches of the Italian national team and fined the sum of CHF 5,000 for repeatedly provoking Zidane," it said.

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