It is the question on every football fan's lips.
What did the Italian footballer say to prompt Zinedine Zidane's shocking
headbutt in the closing moments of Sunday's World Cup final?
The answer, it has emerged, was a vile stream of racial and personal abuse.
Captain Zinedine
Zidane and player Franck Ribery (R) appear before supporters on the
balcony of the Crillon Hotel, overlooking Place de la Concorde, where
crowds gathered during their World Cup 2006 homecoming in Paris July 10,
2006. [Reuters] |
First Marco Matterazzi called the French star the Italian equivalent of
'n*****', and then insulted both his mother and his Muslim background by saying
he is the 'son of a terrorist whore.
The revelation will prove even more of an embarrassment to football's
governing body than the ironic award of player of the tournament to French
captain Zidane.
To millions of television viewers around the world it appeared as if the two
sportsman were enjoying a jocular exchange, until the moment Zidane lowered his
head and sent his opponent plummeting to the ground.
With the help of an expert lip reader the Daily Mail was able to decipher
what led to the violent outburst.
First defender Marco Materazzi spoke in Italian - a language understood by
Zidane who once played for Italian side Juventus - grabbed his opponent and told
him 'hold on, wait, that one's not for a n***** like you.'
It is not clear whether the Italian was referring to the ball heading their
way or his own groping of Zidane.
The expert, who can lip read foreign languages phonetically and translate
with the aid of an Italian interpreter, was unable to see what Zidane said in
reply.
But she saw that as the players walked forward Materazzi said: 'We all know
you are the son of a terrorist whore.'
Then, just before the headbutt, he was seen saying,: 'So just f*** off.'
The translation tallies with the words of Zidane's agent who said the player
had told him the Italian made a 'very serious' comment.
'Zinedine didn't want to talk about it but it will all come out in the next
week,' said Alain Miglaccio.
'He is a man who normally lets things wash over him but on Sunday night
something exploded inside him.'
To some observers who saw Zidane floor his opponent with nine minutes to go,
that description might appear an understatement.
The 34-year-old midfielder was red carded in a move that did his side no
favours as they went on to lose the final on penalties.
