France's soccer team captain Zinedine Zidane takes part in a
television interview in Paris, July 12, 2006, in which he explained his
head-butt on Italy defender Marco Materazzi during the July 9, 2006 final
of the soccer World Cup. FIFA will open a disciplinary investigation into
the circumstances of the incident. (Xinhua/Reuters
Photo) |
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Marco Materazzi (File
Photo/Xinhua) |
GENEVA, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Former France captain Zinedine
Zidane and Italy defender Marco Materazzi were both fined and banned by FIFA on
Thursday after their clash during the 2006 FIFA World Cup final in Berlin on
July 9.
The punishment was announced at a meeting of the
five-man FIFA Disciplinary Committee in Zurich, which heard Zidane's
explanations on the head-butting incident.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee
imposed a three-match ban and a fine of 7,500 Swiss francs (about 6,000 U.S.
dollars) on Zidane on account of his head-butt to Materazzi's chest.
As Zidane has now retired from international football, the committee took note
of Zidane's pledge to do three days of community service work with children and
youngsters as part of FIFA 's humanitarian activities.
Materazzi was suspended for two official matches of
the Italiannational team and fined the sum of 5,000 Swiss francs (about 4,000
U.S.dollars) for repeatedly provoking Zidane during the World Cup final.
FIFA gave both players the right
to be heard in accordance withthe FIFA Disciplinary Code. The hearing with
Materazzi was held at FIFA's Zurich headquarters on 14 July, with Zidane
questioned during Thursday's meeting.
In their respective statements, both players stressed
that Materazzi's comments had been defamatory but not of a racist nature. During
the course of their hearings, both players also apologized to FIFA for their
inappropriate behaviour and expressed their regret at the incident.
Referee Horacio Elizondo (Argentina) sent Zidane off
in the 110th minute of the World Cup final after he head-butted Materazzi.
The incident had been directly observed from his
position at the pitchside without the use of a monitor by the fourth official,
Luis Medina Cantalejo (ESP), who informed the referee and his assistants through
the communications system.
Both match officials were also invited to attend the
meeting on Thursday. According to the regulations, the fourth official must
inform the referee if any acts of violent conduct are committed out of sight of
the referee and his assistants. Enditem
