Zidane-Materazzi case: Why defend violence in a sport?

Question

The thing is, if you dont like your shirt being pulled by other player, you shouldnt play football, you should play billiard instead. I like Zidane, i always like. But in this case i try to not see it subjectively.

Pulling shirt thingy is, for God's sake, very normal thing that happened since football is invented. And Materazzi just did what other football players on this planet always do. When Zidane said something like "if you want my shirt, i can give it to you later", dont u think it's a big-headed arrogance?. It's like " Excuse moi, I'm Zinedine Zidane, signore, i'm a big player who will be retired after this, don't you pull my shining shirt, you not-famous player".

So Materazzi thought that, "geez, what a big-headed this monsieur is". So, well, he replied back with something that he hoped make Zidane hurt.

So for me, it's Zidane who actually started it. His arrogance. People defend Zidane because he's a big player who wanted to retire. I's a sympathy, not objectivity.

P.S: I read articles describing Materazzi's insult. I don't say it's a good thing. Nobody likes being insulted, moreover involving mother. But Zidane's word to him "if you want my shirt, i can give it to you later" actually started everything. can't u see what's really behind that sentence? That's why this nasty Materazzi felt he should say something to give this big headed a bitter pill for his arrogance. Well it's bad, what Materazzi said was bad, but his nastyness was provoked by Zidane's "sounds-normal-but-actually-arrogant" line.

Zidane could start his own nuclear war after the match over. Not in the field. Where's the sportsmanship?

Answer 1

We don't know if Zidane's tone was actually arrogant, or if Materazzi perceived it as arrogant. We also don't know what Materazzi actually told him.

The point is, Zidane shouldn't have headbutted him. As you say, violence in sports can't be condoned by any means.

And I agree with you, many people sympathize with him because he was insulted -- or his mother and sister were. But, what would this world be if everybody headbutted those who insult their mothers and sisters? If this had happened in the street, Zidane would have been sued. But it happened on the pitch and he was a football legend who was playing his last game, hence all the hype and sympathy.

Answer 2

Many people, even some of the French, will agree that it wasn't Materazzi's fault entirely in the headbutting incident, yet others will continue to blame Materazzi simply because he was never as well-known before the match (in fact, only a substitute for the Italian team). Zidane developed his reputation after years of experience in international soccer, and this led millions of people to gaze in wonder at his talents. Yes, he is a gifted player, but does that mean that he can use his fame to his advantage by developing some sort of army of supporters? Both sides were at fault in the incident.

Pulling shirts is a regular practice among defenders in soccer matches. Materazzi was only doing what many others would do, grasping Zidane's shirt. Zidane didn't have to react to that, either, because I'm sure that it has happened many times before in his extensive career.

They say that Materazzi "provoked" Zidane, that Zidane would otherwise be calm and collected as he had always been for his career. However, circumstances change when you realize that it is the last international football match you will ever play in your professional career. Maybe Zidane was overexcited about the importance of the match in his lifetime? There's no reason to say that Materazzi deliberately chose to turn the game around with an insult. After all, Zidane also said something to "provoke" him!

Both sides contributed to the violence we saw that Sunday. There should be no reason to blame one of them entirely.

Answer 3

Oh where have you been?!!! I recall Zidane saying this thug was said nasty things about his mother & sister as well as the pulling shirt thing & twisting nipple .

I don't condone violence & Zidane should have known better to lower himself to Materazzi's own standards but he was provoked at least 3 times (so Zidane says!) and this clearly shows on the video as he was walking away & Materazzi was still gobbing off.

The person who put the youtube link in their post is spot on...this Materazzi fool is nothing more than a imbecile, nasty piece of work & got a taste of his own medicine. People are only defending Zidane as he was provoked into a reaction violent or not by some bit part player - shame on the Italian team, big time.

Answer 4

I don't know if you've read the articles concerning zidane & materazzi but, that's not all that happened. Materazzi insulted zidane's mom & sister. materazzi provoked him and should be mainly to blame for zidane's reaction. This situation started because of materazzi's stupidity....

Answer 5

Before we go any further with this case,we should know that Zidane,though a football icon,and famous ,is aperson.
Everybody is fragile. We dont knowy et what happened. All we hear are speculations. No body is defending violence,and neither should we defend provocative people( Materazzi admitted to provoking Zizou)

Answer 6

Check out this video clip before you even think about defending a sleaze like Materazzi. I think it speaks for itself as to what lengths he will go to win a football game. Zidane's headbutt had nothing to do with shirt pulling and everything to do with nailing someone that desperately deserved it. The FIFA investigation should be most interesting..
http://youtube.com/watch?v=7HblsV-urHg&search=materazzi

Answer 7

Zidane aparently punched the guy over a yo momma joke. He claimed Materazzi said "I'd rather take the shirt off your mother" in corroboration with a lip reader. So he tarnished his legacy over a wisecrack. Every American knows you don't head butt him, you get in his grill and start yelling. The French should know better than to start conflict. That haven't won a war since Napoleon.

Answer 8

What we are dealing with here are spoilt b******s!!. Zidane is no exception.Its obvious to everyone that Materrazzi wanted to irritate Zizou.And it worked!. Zidane should have known better but he let his emotions run amok.He should be punished along with Materrazzi!!.
This kind of thing happens frequently in alot of football matches around the world.Not only at the world cup. We will all have to see what FIFA decides to do with these two idiots. I hope they both get what they deserve and that FIFA takes back Zizou's best player award!

Answer 9

Nobody defends violence in sports. But many subhumans like RONALD try to defend Materazzi.

Answer 10

I agree with you 200%.....And what Zidane did CANNOT be justified whatsoever. Zidane did a disgraceful thing and just tried to put he blame where t really wasn't. He is the only one to blame, and people who say otherwise it is because they don't follow soccer and don't see that name-calling and shirt-pulling goes on all the time during matches!

The reason there is so much hype is because French fans can't come to grips that they lost and that the captain of their teams demonstarted to be one enormous idiot!