Materazzi breaks silence

ROME – Italy defender Marco Materazzi has broken his silence over the verbal exchange that led to his violent World Cup final clash with French star Zinedine Zidane.

Materazzi was sent crashing to the turf by a Zidane head-butt near the end of extra-time of the July 9 final in Berlin following a verbal altercation. Mystery has surrounded the exact nature of the abuse directed at Zidane by Materazzi ever since the incident, which subsequently earned the Inter Milan centre-half a two-match ban from world governing body Fifa.But in an interview with the Gazzetta dello Sport here Tuesday, Materazzi revealed it was a remark he made about Zidane’s sister that provoked the French captain’s moment of madness.Materazzi said that when Zidane offered to give him his France jersey after the final whistle in response to persistent shirt-tugging by the Italian, he had replied: “I would prefer your sister.”Materazzi insisted however that he should not blamed for sparking the incident.”I did not cause it,” he told Gazzetta.”I answered verbally with a provocation to defend myself.”Yes, I was tugging his shirt, but when he said to me scornfully ‘If you want my shirt so much I’ll give it to you afterwards,’ is that not a provocation? I answered that I’d prefer his sister, it’s true.”It’s not a particularly nice thing to say, I recognise that.But loads of players say worse things …I didn’t even know he had a sister before all this happened,” added Materazzi, who is suspended for Italy’s Euro 2008 qualifying rematch with France in Paris today.Zidane was given a three-match ban for his part in the spat, but as he had retired from football he was made to do three days of community service instead.Materazzi said he would have been happy to do three years of community service if it meant he could play against France on Wednesday before criticising Fifa for what he felt was favouritism shown towards Zidane.Nampa-ReutersMystery has surrounded the exact nature of the abuse directed at Zidane by Materazzi ever since the incident, which subsequently earned the Inter Milan centre-half a two-match ban from world governing body Fifa.But in an interview with the Gazzetta dello Sport here Tuesday, Materazzi revealed it was a remark he made about Zidane’s sister that provoked the French captain’s moment of madness.Materazzi said that when Zidane offered to give him his France jersey after the final whistle in response to persistent shirt-tugging by the Italian, he had replied: “I would prefer your sister.”Materazzi insisted however that he should not blamed for sparking the incident.”I did not cause it,” he told Gazzetta.”I answered verbally with a provocation to defend myself.”Yes, I was tugging his shirt, but when he said to me scornfully ‘If you want my shirt so much I’ll give it to you afterwards,’ is that not a provocation? I answered that I’d prefer his sister, it’s true.”It’s not a particularly nice thing to say, I recognise that.But loads of players say worse things …I didn’t even know he had a sister before all this happened,” added Materazzi, who is suspended for Italy’s Euro 2008 qualifying rematch with France in Paris today.Zidane was given a three-match ban for his part in the spat, but as he had retired from football he was made to do three days of community service instead.Materazzi said he would have been happy to do three years of community service if it meant he could play against France on Wednesday before criticising Fifa for what he felt was favouritism shown towards Zidane.Nampa-Reuters

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