Was Zidane's 'Coupe de Boule' (head-butt) incident was a result of the Italian psychological war tactics?

Question

If so, should FIFA in future ban such tactic?

Answer 1

1. I'm Italian and I never thought our championhip as the best one in fair-play. Harsh words, blocks, endless fouling against a single opponent, are usual strategies in every match is played. Football needs skills as well as focusing, and disturbing an opponent could get him out of focus.
Watching Champions League and main tournament as UEFA or FIFA cups since last 30 years, I've seen how this behavior is usual in all countries. Disturbing an opponent seems to me happening more often in other ships, as Spain, Portugal, Greece, South Americans as Argentina and Uruguay. Besides this, Italian clubs are filled with champions coming from all over the world. Materazzi's club is Inter (Internazionale Milano), and they sometimes are playing with a whole non-Italian line-up, and aren't deserved as the best fair-playing...
The masterstroke in disturbing tactics was performed by the Danish Poulsen in Denmark-Italy, UEFA Euro Championship 2004. He disturbed Totti in every known way, and finally was paid whit a spit in return. The referee didn't see the fact, and Totti was banned for 2 match by TV evidence (Danish network, of course).
A both sides spitting fight involved in FIFA WC 1990 Rijkaard (HOL) and Voeller (GER). Both were banned (and, became Holland and Germany coaches in further years).
2. A psychological war needs recipes I can't spot in Italy-France match.
i) I can't see any psychologist.
ii) to have a war and not simply fights as above, tou need a whole team or many players involved. Zidane wasn't hardly fouled, nor insulted by more players. I think led a psychological war with Materazzi as only soldier isn't such a well-crafted plan.
iii) this plan need a target eligible to be hitten by psychological ways. I'm Juventus fan and I like their French players as Thuram, Vieira, Trezeguet as well as the former Zidane, Deschamps (now Juventus' coach), Henry, Platini. I well remember Zidane Italians years, and he don't seems a psychologically weak player. On 24 October 2000 (Champions League, Hamburger SV - Juventus 3-1) he butt-headed an opponent, but this isn't enough to spot him as a frail player.
iv) If a shadow-psychologist ruled this war suggesting Materazzi some magical words to drive mad Zidane (Open-sesame task: if you say this, he go mad), and he was ready to such a vile plan, I can't figure it out WHY THE HELL HE DID NOT UTTER HIS MAGICAL WORDS EARLY IN THE GAME, avoiding Zidane to score a penalty and forcing France to play in 10 men. Having him send off at 115' it seems to me as an useless tactic.
3. What could FIFA do against *individual* disturbing tactic? The answer is already known. If you check laws of the game, you can easily spot a player is red-card awarded if guilty of offence and insulting. The actual FIFA investigation will focus on the admitted Materazzi insulting behavior, to have him heavyly sanctioned. This will happen because they're highly concerned with their mistake: awarding Zidane with Golden Ball after a world TV watch butt-head they need to find a way to explain why a dangerous damaging reaction could be better than a non-damaging insult. They will take their chances, because actually many fans all over the world love Zidane's great plays enough to forget how dangerous was its foul.
To me, this is a press and network trouble. As Zidane fan, I haven't any trouble in saying he's a great champion, as he was to me after 24 Oct. 2000. He lost his head and got a red card. His foul was definitively worst than Materazzi's one. And we all needs to be more concerned about butt-heads than insults. But we aren't and FIFA will punish Materazzi. Wrong target, but it's life and the ultimate evidence how networks rules.

Answer 2

Zidane's 'Coupe de Boule' (head-butt) incident was a result of the idiot being unable (or unwilling) to place his personal emotions and feelings behind the need to provide an example to millions of kids watching the match. One Frenchman who needs to grow up emotionally. At least now he is retired from international football and will not bring such disgrace to the French footballing federation or the footballing community in general again.

Answer 3

The Italians are famous for the cheating & will do anything to win a game at any cost.

They game plan was to take Zidane & Henry out of the game, Materazzi had said they would do this before the match. Materazzi is a dirty player so it was fitting that he was the one to wound up Zidane, but overall most of that side have either played alongside him (Zambrotta, Del Piero at Juventus) or against him in Serie B so are well aware of his temperament & how to wind him up.

Yes they won the pyschological war & the match as a result - so hats off to them, but with the tag of one idiot insulting the women in Zidane's life & possibly being racist, nice way to endear yourself to the public. NOT!

Answer 4

Well footballers employ "psychological war tactics" all the time but it's left to the player to recognise these and act according to the rules of the game.

Answer 5

theres no tactic. its an intense game and people will say all kinds of nasty things...the better and tougher players know to ignore it and use their anger to play a more aggressive game...it just showed that in the heat of the moment, zidane wasnt able to control himself and therefore deserved the red card.

Answer 6

Zidanes headbutt was the result of his inability to control his temper. Sledging has always been a part of sport. It is vile and should not be tollerated, but to react violently to it is not acceptable.

Answer 7

If it was Italian war tactics matterazi would of had a white flag and been running backwards.

Answer 8

Psychological tactics my foot! How smart do you have to be to say "screw you mofo"? You retaliate by saming same to your opponent, walk away, continue play. Zidane was stupid, paid the price, end of legend, end of story. Stupid to have rules governing trashtalk - impossible to enforce.

Answer 9

yes it was a physcological war tactic form italy, fifa should definitely ban this or at least attempt to ban it.

Answer 10

if the italian player insulted zidanes mother i can understand why he was mad....but he let himself down lashing out .if he insulted thier religious beliefs,then surely that is inciting racial hatred and he should be dealt with in the proper way.
politics have no place in football.