Materazzi acknowledges insulting Zidane

July 11, 2006

MILAN, Italy (AP) -- Marco Materazzi acknowledged he insulted Zinedine Zidane before the French captain head-butted him in the World Cup final, but repeated his denial that he called Zidane a "terrorist."

"I did insult him, it's true," Materazzi said in Tuesday's Gazzetta dello Sport. "But I categorically did not call him a terrorist. I'm not cultured and I don't even know what an Islamic terrorist is." A Paris-based anti-racism group issued a statement Monday saying Materazzi had called Zidane, whose parents emigrated to France from Algeria, a "dirty terrorist."

Zidane and Materazzi exchanged words in extra-time of Sunday's final in Berlin. Seconds later, Zidane lowered his head and rammed Materazzi in the chest, knocking him to the ground. Zidane was ejected from the match.

"I held his shirt for a few seconds only, then he turned round and spoke to me, sneering," the Italian defender told the newspaper. "He looked me up and down, arrogantly and said: 'If you really want my shirt, I'll give it to you afterwards."'

The 32-year-old Inter Milan player did not elaborate on exactly what he said to Zidane.

"It was one of those insults you're told tens of times and that always fly around the pitch," he said.

Also Tuesday, Algeria's president defended Zidane and said soccer fans shouldn't condemn the French star.

"We are just human beings, our duty is not to judge, our duty is to understand," said in London after meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

From Yahoo!.

61 % of the people of france which is interviewed said that they forgive Zidane of head-butting Marco. And 27% said they didnt.

I really respect Zidane. He is only a human being who does mistakes like that. At the situation of headbutting Marco during the worldcup because of the insults that were given out by him.

Overall, Zinedine Zidane is only a human who has a feelings like us. Understand him, just like Abdelaziz Bouteflika said. ^_^.

• Zidane is the best.