How Materazzi provoked Zidane
There is a consensus that Zinedine Zidane, normally a quiet man, must have been provoked into headbutting Marco Materazzi. Speculation is now growing as to what Materazzi said or did. Two versions are gathering pace. The first, according to L’Equipe is that Materazzi called Zizou a “dirty terrorist” because of his Algerian roots. The second, according to Brazilian TV channel Globo is that Materazzi insulted Zizou’s sister, Lila, and called her a “prostitute” twice. The channel had lip-reading experts examine the video evidence and this is the conclusion they reached.
France’s Florent Malouda said later that Zizou told the French players in the dressing room what Materazzi had said but did not divulge any details. Zizou’s agent Alain Migliaccio, told BBC Radio Five Live that his client’s reaction was provoked by some “very serious comments“. The rumours are likely to continue over the coming days and unless Zizou himself makes a statement we are never likely to know the truth.
