An apology, but no regrets and no detailed explanation on what set him off.
That’s where French soccer star Zinedine Zidane left things Wednesday during widely broadcast television interviews that attempted to decipher his ugly head-butting of an Italian opponent during the World Cup final.
He did say he was spurred by cruel insults to his mother and sister. But the exact exchange between France’s captain and Marco Materazzi remains a mystery. Zidane never was specific about what enraged him.
“I would rather have taken a punch in the jaw than have heard that,” he said, stressing Materazzi’s language was “very harsh,” and that he uttered the insults several times.
In his first public comments since Sunday’s match, Zidane repeatedly apologized to fans – especially to children. But he said he didn’t regret the abrupt, violent outburst that marked the end of his illustrious 18-year professional career.
“I tell myself that if things happened this way, it’s because somewhere up there it was decided that way,” the 34-year-old midfielder said. “And I don’t regret anything that happened. I accept it.”
Zidane and Materazzi exchanged words after Italy broke up a French attack in extra-time. Seconds later, Zidane lowered his head and rammed Materazzi in the chest, knocking him to the ground. Zidane was sent off, reducing France to 10 men. Italy went on to win in a penalty shootout.
The act of aggression marred the end of the World Cup, with many warning it would tarnish the legacy of Zidane, who retired after the tournament.
Wednesday, he stressed he felt no regret “because that would mean (Materazzi) was right to say all that.”
“There was a serious provocation,” Zidane said. “My act is not forgivable. But they must also punish the true guilty party, and the guilty party is the one who provokes.”
Materazzi has acknowledged he insulted Zidane, without giving specifics. He denied insulting Zidane’s mother.
“I didn’t say anything to him about racism, religion or politics,” Materazzi said. “I didn’t talk about his mother, either. I lost my mother when I was 15, and even now I still get emotional talking about her.”
Despite the head-butt, Zidane was awarded the Golden Ball award for best player at the World Cup – though FIFA president Sepp Blatter has suggested Zidane could be stripped of the honor.
“The winner of the award is not decided by FIFA, but by an international commission of journalists,” Blatter said in Italian newspaper La Repubblica. “That said, FIFA’s executive committee has the right, and the duty, to intervene when faced with behavior contrary to the ethics of the sport.”
FIFA’s disciplinary committee opened an inquiry Tuesday into Zidane’s behavior.
Meanwhile, Italy coach Marcello Lippi resigned three days after guiding the Azzurri to their fourth World Cup title.
Despite widespread calls for him to stay, Lippi suggested weeks ago he would resign. He said he feels he and his son, Davide, were attacked personally in the corruption scandal that has tainted Italian soccer.
“At the end of an extraordinary professional and human experience, experienced as the head of an exceptional group of players … I believe my role is over as the guide of the Italian national team,” Lippi said.
While he is not under investigation, Lippi was questioned by prosecutors before the World Cup about alleged pressure he received to select certain players for Italy’s national team. Davide Lippi is under investigation for his work at player agency GEA World.
“I will continue to coach,” Lippi said without elaborating.
Poland: Leo Beenhakker will become the first foreigner to coach Poland. The Dutchman replaces Pawel Janas.
Trinidad: Wim Rijsbergen has accepted an offer to replace Beenhakker as coach.
FIFA: Brazil remained No. 1 in redesigned world rankings, with Italy moving up to No. 2. The United States dropped from fifth to 16th.
Argentina moved into third place with France No. 4 and England No. 5. Rounding out the top 10 were: the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Germany and the Czech Republic.
The new system takes into account games played over the past four years instead of the past eight. It also changes the weighting system, with more importance given to World Cup games vs. exhibitions.
The U.S. and Mexico were two of the biggest losers.
The United States, knocked out in the first round of the World Cup, dropped 11 places. Mexico, which reached the second round, fell from No. 4 to 18.
