Booo Zidane

I feel sorry, not for him, but for his career. What a way to bow out.

And the Italian chap did what he could to assist, when he saw what was coming... Pulling his legs up, rolling over, and screaming like he was hit by the Eiffel tower.

If you hit someone on the street after having been provoked, you will have your penalty reduced. At least he had no injuring intent -- it wasn't a dangerous tackle or intentional attempt to injure the Italian actor.

I feel pity for Zidane. One moment of anger that destroyed a fantastic carreer.

And the best team in the final lost by the smallest possible margins. Even without Zidane, France continued to attack, and was overall the best team, in my humble opinion.

SAS_Rouge

I respect & admire Zidane. I think Materazzi should have been red carded for his vulgar mouth. To me, that is the point where the line was crossed. The fact that no one seems to be criticising the Italian, and would rather foucs their blame on Zidane, well I find that to be just plain sad...

No the Italian was wrong to say whatever he said, but Zidane would go to prison if he did that on the street. Whatever provocation. The fact that he is such a good Ambassador for football makes his shame even worse. Im sure it was bad to make him flip like that. But that was raw violence, for years we have been complaining about the fans behaviour, it seems to me now the fans are a lot better than the players.

ironic eh?

No the Italian was wrong to say whatever he said, but Zidane would go to prison if he did that on the street. Whatever provocation.

Zidane is fully responsible.

No -- that is exactly my point: If it had happened on the street in any modern country, he would most likely have passed without any consequences.

A provocation in words and/or action can lead to aquittal or at least a much softer reaction, as long as the provoked action isn't more serious than Zidane's push in the chest.

So: If someone provokes you sufficiently in the pub one evening, and you slap him in his face, you are most likely off the hook. If you break his nose, you are not off the hook completely (because of the injuries), but at least your penalty will be reduced.

There is an almost unisone condemnation of Zidane's action in the press. But it is important to keep a cool head. Still, we don't know the contents of the provokation, if there had been any previous provocations... In other words ... we don't know the merits of the case.

The ref can only respond to what he sees ... it is easy to get away with any provocation on the field.

What worries me more than Zidane's violation, is how this WC has shown a world of cheaters, provocateurs and dive masters. What happened to fair play?

SAS_Rouge

So: If someone provokes you sufficiently in the pub one evening, and you slap him in his face, you are most likely off the hook. If you break his nose, you are not off the hook completely (because of the injuries), but at least your penalty will be reduced.

Well yeh but in the UK that would carry a higher charge therefore higher penalties, so in fact he would still be worse off.
Zidane = Assault
bloody nose in pub = ABH ( actually bodily harm)
Broken nose in pub = GBH ( Grevious bodily harm)
broken skin using an implement = Malicious wounding

all carry various penalties.

What i do think is shamefull is that the fans were better behaved than the players, how many kids are going to be doing that in the playgrounds of the world today?
And to top it all he wins the golden ball award for the best player of the tournament. What a Shambles.

how many kids are going to be doing that in the playgrounds of the world today?

Thats what the big names should be thinking before they do some thing.

Indeed but a childs role model should behave him/her self. It can be a big influence.

He didn't quite ask to be a important player did he?

A professional footballer has to be able to shrug off such things without doing what he did.

I must agree, their is rarly a valid reason to resort to vilolence when no lifes are at stake.

Soccer players are not Gods. They are only human just like any of us. I wouldn't set your expectations of them unscrupulously high. Any sports player or individual is subject to eventual break-down under very strenuous conditions.

I hate when TV is about to show a clip or when celebrities do something stupid and dangerous. And then gives the reply/warning “don’t do this at home”, I really feel like they underrest my intelligence. What difference does it make really? I mean if a person is not able to think for him self and is stupid enough to do it, then I’m positively sure that the “don’t do this at home” reply/warning, won’t prevent him from doing it anyway.

This is so American and unfortunately this has become more common in the last few years in the European media too, not as much though. I know the main reason for it is to make sure they can’t get suit.
But its still bloody annoying.. what a stupid world we live in.

The act that Zidane dit is as unacceptable as the one Wayne Rooney did in England’s last game . Like Wiz said footballers at there level never ever must loose there head like several players did during this VM . I have a great temper to, but I have trained my self to not react to stupid comments and gestures from others. Perhaps a anger manishment course is the way for this players to go. Ore they can play BF2 in there spear time.

SAS_Ghost

Perhaps a anger manishment course is the way for this players to go. Ore they can play BF2 in there spear time.

SAS_Ghost

How do you know they don't already. For all you know i am Wayne Rooney and i play RvS in my spare time....apart from his naff liverpool accent of course :laugh:

Hey man say hello to SAS_Rct_Rooney fka Great football player

And man you arent that great a footballer. :laugh: :laugh:

SAS_Ghost

He did that the other time he played in a Wolrd Cup game too :smokin:

just so you all know the Italian player called him the equvelant of Ni**er(for being arab) and then called him "the son of a terrorist whore" attacking his muslim mother. I woulda headbutted him too.

and the fans were well behaved? an entire side whisteling during the others national anthem, yeah thats nice.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19762820-2703,00.html

The alleged insult to his mother was described as especially explosive because she had been taken to hospital gravely ill on the day of the Cup final, and yesterday Zidane rushed back to Marseilles to be at her bedside. Zidane's agent said the star was provoked by Materazzi and would explain what happened in a few days.

Now that makes more sense, I'd probably would have decked him after the game if he said any thing more.

may i add to Noahs post by saying that also, Zidane had just found out that his mother is dying.

I think Materazzi squeezed Zidane's nipple aswell.

nipple squeezes happen everytime there is a corner, Im pleased to see that FIFA are investigating the incident on both sides

just to let u guys knwo zidane won the golden ball ro something rather i tihnk its the mvp of the tournament?????

http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/060710/1/8rik.html

Yes Suzuki, the golden ball is for the best player of the tournament, as voted for by FIFA. However today they have announced that they may revoke it due to his red card.