In addition to saying something, it also looked like he'd given him a nipple-twist right before..

"Isn't it about time for you guys to surrender? I mean... that's what you guys usually do, right?"

"I dare you to head butt my chest...bitch"

It had to be something filthy and amazing. But who cares really? The headbutt was beautiful, Zidane goes down in a blaze of hostile glory...I loved it.

According to FoxSports.com, "FOXSports.com's Jamie Trecker reports that French players told French media members that Materazzi used a racial slur which prompted the headbutt."

According to FoxSports.com, "FOXSports.com's Jamie Trecker reports that French players told French media members that Materazzi used a racial slur which prompted the headbutt."

The guy's a white Frenchman. What kind of racial slur could he have used? Did he call him a "frog?" As a white american, I know I've never been bothered by "cracker" or anything. I can't imagine a racial slur directed at me that would set me off.

The guy's not a white Frenchman, he's an Algerian, son of immigrants.

Zidane is known for such violent outbursts! In 1998 he literally stompped on a Saudi player in the world cup, and in 2003 he was suspended five games at Juventus for (what else?) head-butting an opposing player. He has always been a violent man; during a UA-21 tournament in the early 90s, he punched a germany player. So it's no suprise to anyone who knows anything about Zidane that he can fly off the handle like that.

"The guy's a white Frenchman." Zidane is white, but not a frenchman, he's the son of algerian berbers.

Likely something about his Momma. Or his Momma and balls.

He's also a Muslim.

For being the son of berbers, he doesn't have a very nice haircut.

He called him a nigger terrorist. All the Italians were using racial slurs all night long, it's what Italians do. Most of the French players are black or Berber, like Zidane (who was born in France to Algerian parents; Zidane is a common Algerian name, and Algeria even had an unrelated goalscorer named Zidane in the 1986 World Cup), and "terrorist" and "bomber" are common insults for Muslim players, of whom France has many and white Fascist Italy has none. Pretty ironic for a World Cup whose theme was "an end to racism".

The titty-twister was the proximate cause, though.

Zidane richly deserved his red card but Italians are the only ones who think they are glorious in contrast. We'll see what happens in the Italian League next year when the top four clubs are playing in Serie C1. Unless, as rumored, the World Cup victory has earned those criminals a blanket amnesty.

fnarf

what's your source for the racial slur calling. I've been looking and as so far you're the first to have knowledge of specifics...

Man, I hate to agree with FNARF, but he has a good take on this one. I have no idea what that dude said to him, but that red card

The Italians are notoriously racist and they throw bananas at black , Tunisian and Arab players all the time, during futbol matches specially during Rome’s Lazio games where even some Italian players salute their supporters with a fascist salute and where they have their headquarters a few blocks from the stadium with a huge Musollini picture..

Italians don’t consider themselves racist, but yet they call you gypsy( even if youre not) or monkey or terrorist or they mock the way Asians talk without thinking they’re saying something racist. Italy is not a cool place if you’re brown or black. France and the UK on the other hand are way more multi cultural societies, despite all their problems.

I would not be surprised if he called him some racist name. France’s Henry currently leads an anti racism campaign through out Europes and he always talk about how Italy and Spain are the worst stadiums to play at.

But I think he probably just called him a teste di cazzo.

Libo gives a laundry list of the various newspapers and their stories about the insult. All those cited, including the Guardian and Independent where the racial and terrorist slurs are suggested, are speculative.
My speculation: "Moi, j'suis Brando, et ta maman est mon beurre." (Though I guess it's unlikely that Materrazi has watched much Bertoluci).

It's interesting to read such generalizations as "The Italians are notoriously racist" and "All the Italians were using racial slurs all night long, it's what Italians do."

Uh, what?

yes, and I loved the generalization about "white Fascist Italy". it's like saying America is Christian White Wing...

Go to a Lazio game and then we will talk.

As far as Italians using racial slurs and not thinking theyre being racist, Im speaking from personal experience of my time I spent in Italy.

I agree that is speculation what the guy said, but Duh, thats what these posts are about: Speculation.

Germans are also notorious for hurling racist insults at black players. Luckily, they behaved themselves for the World Cup.

Well, allow me to speculate that at that point in the game Zidane was extremely frustrated that his team could not score, even thought they were dominating. Essentially, it doesn't matter what was said. Many think the game shouldn't have gone into overtime. France's only goal was a gift which Zidane only made by inches on a penalty kick, almost always an automatic goal. France's only missed penalty kick in the shootout bounced off the crossbar and out in a remarkably similar way to Zidane'. Zidane's beautiful header toward the goal was spectacularly saved. Materazzi's beautiful header was not saved, and was the game's only "true" goal.
Unfortunately no one wants to talk about this, only what Materazzi may or may not have said to "provoke" Zidane. Zidane gained his final act of notoriety because he is known as a violent hothead.
He has sealed this personal history. If only he had scored a "true" goal his final glory would have been different. I speculate this is where the head butt really came from. Frustration at not scoring. Materazzi could have said any number of things...

Well, allow me to speculate that at that point in the game Zidane was extremely frustrated that his team could not score, even thought they were dominating. Essentially, it doesn't matter what was said. Many think the game shouldn't have gone into overtime. France's only goal was a gift which Zidane only made by inches on a penalty kick, almost always an automatic goal. France's only missed penalty kick in the shootout bounced off the crossbar and out in a remarkably similar way to Zidane'. Zidane's beautiful header toward the goal was spectacularly saved. Materazzi's beautiful header was not saved, and was the game's only "true" goal.
Unfortunately no one wants to talk about this, only what Materazzi may or may not have said to "provoke" Zidane. Zidane gained his final act of notoriety because he is known as a violent hothead.
He has sealed this personal history. If only he had scored a "true" goal his final glory would have been different. I speculate this is where the head butt really came from. Frustration at not scoring. Materazzi could have said any number of things...

Here, here, Herethere. Zidane was frustrated--Buffon's hand on that header, the shoulder injury, the fact that the team could not score despite all that time in the box--and he gave in to it, dropping Materazzi cold with HIS HEAD. It was imperfect and human and violent and passionate--a fantastic way to go out, if you ask me. His career speaks for itself.

Herethere: I think you're speculation is best. The guy was exhausted, stressed and frustrated. Humans react unpredictably with any one of those factors and Nindane lost it. That's what makes sports interesting. Nidane probably has no idea really why he did what he did.

I object somewhat to the characterization of France as "dominating." I think what we saw was the beautiful match of the French offense to the Italian defense -- both of which are absolutely stellar. Yeah, the ball stayed in the Italian side longer, but, like you point out, the only score was a penalty shot. There were no "real" goals scored on Italy the entire tournament (the goal in the US game was embarrassing, sure, but still).

any goal is a "true" goal if it crosses the line. and where were you when marco 'the matrix' lobbed his own keeper from 50 yards with a "beautiful" lob earlier this year. bravo zidane.

fair enough, then Zidane missed his chance to score a "true" goal that would have mattered... Bravo!

the italian guy probably said "yeah, your mom is probably bald too"