Zidane and Materazzi Banned and Fined by FIFA for Final Spat
July 20, 2006
Frenchman Zinedine Zidane has been suspended for three matches after his headbutt on Italy's Marco Materazzi in the World Cup final, world soccer's governing body FIFA said on Thursday.
He was also fined 7,500 Swiss francs (4,800 euros) after being sent off near the end of extra-time in the World Cup final, which Italy eventually won on penalties, following a 1-1 draw in Berlin on July 9.
Materazzi was suspended for two matches and fined 5,000 Swiss francs (3,200 euros).
FIFA spokesman Andreas Herren said in a statement: "As Zidane has retired, the commission has noted Zidane will also make himself available to FIFA for humanitarian activities with children and adolescents."
Zidane has since explained the incident by saying Materazzi insulted his mother and sister.
Materazzi previously denied he had made racist comments, something that was officially backed up by FIFA in a statement on Thursday.
The Italian previously told Gazetta dello Sport: "I did not say anything to him that was racist, religious, or political. I also said nothing about his mother."
While Italians celebrated their fourth World Cup crown, France and the rest of the world wondered just what had made the 34-year-old soccer genius act in the violent way he did.