Materazzi denial

    Materazzi has denied insulting the France captain's mother.

    In an interview given to Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport on Wednesday, Materazzi said Zidane was his footballing hero.

    "I said nothing to him about race, religion or politics. I did not talk about his mother either," the defender was quoted as saying.

    "I lost my mother when I was 15 and it still upsets me to talk about it. Of course I didn't know that his mother was in hospital. I send her my best wishes."

    Materazzi gave the interview before Zidane appeared on live French television to talk about the attack. Enditem

    (agencies)