Zidane headbutts Materazzi, 2006 FIFA World Cup Final
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Tempers were high, and understandably so. Italy took on France at the finals of the FIFA World Cup in 2006 in Germany, and to add to the already emotionally charged atmosphere at the stadium, French football legend Zinedine Zidane was playing his last ever match.
Both Zidane and Materazzi had scored for their respective teams, with Zidane’s 9’ goal coming off a penalty conceded by Materazzi, who went on to equalize 8 minutes later.
With the teams tied at 1-1 at the end of 90 minutes, the match was forced into extra time. The two, jogging close to each other on the pitch, were seen to engage in a minor verbal altercation, which saw Zidane initially began to walk away.
Only moments afterward, the Frenchman turned around to fiercely headbutt the Italian striker in the chest and knocked him to the ground. After the referee, who did not see the incident occur, was informed of it, he awarded Zidane a red card – the second time he had been red-carded in a World Cup tournament, with the first during France’s match against Saudi Arabia during the 1998 edition of the tournament.
Italy eventually won in 2006 through a penalty shootout, with most placing the blame of the incident on Zidane. Several avowed that Materazzi had ‘what was coming to him’ after the verbal provocations, although nobody except the two parties involved genuinely knew what had gone on on the pitch.
Materazzi and Zidane later confirmed it had been a crude generic reference to Zidane’s sister, and although Materazzi did admit to verbally provoking the star, most said that given trash talking and minor sledging are routine for most sports, the French player should not have resorted to physical violence in retaliation.
Zidane later repeatedly referred to his regret over the incident.
