How can anyone honestly believe that headbutting someone is worse than verbal abuse?

Question

I am not saying that Zidane is right for having reacted to the provocation, but verbal abuse using personal things is 10,000 times worse; especially if it's used as part of a strategy to target key players in order to win a game. How much more evil can you get than that.

It was pretty interesting too to see that Materazzi stayed on the ground laying there up until the red card was given after which he stood back up and resumed playing. This is so incredibly typical!

It is sad that a lot of people all over the world and especially in the US don't understand why Zidane was so offended because it doesn't occur to them that in other cultures certain things are offensive even if it's a very normal thing in the US

It is hard for people in America to understand that in most countries, people don't do as much verbal abuse. When it is done, it is a big deal. Also, in America, people talk **** about people's mothers as a joke all the time but in some cultures, it is the ultimate insult and no one ever goes there. It is worse than killing someone.

for those who are asking how you prove verbal abuse in a soccer game: experts do lip reading and in fact they are in the process of doing that with materazzi right now. Fifa has a rule where if someone discriminates someone else, they get punished and it is being investigated right now.

Answer 1

Have you ever heard the famous phrase "sticks and stones might break my bones but words will never hurt me". Making millions of dollars and being a professional, he should know this.

Answer 2

The main problem here is that the 2006 World Cup Final was watched by billions of people, and most of them do not have so much understanding of soccer rules and regulations.
They watched and commented the game based on their culture and their believes. So, for some people verbal abuse is "worse" than headbutting. For some others, Materazzi should even press charges on Zidane. Everyone has its own opinion, based on where they live and on how their society is structured. Great! I understand all of that!
BUT
A soccer match (such as the World Cup Final) has its own rules and in this case they were properly applied on the field! Anything else is just pure speculation from the media and from people that like to complain about everything (without real knowledge of the game)

You are so confused!

Answer 3

It depends on what you've said. A lot of fights start with verbal abuse, I want to go ahead and say 90% of fights start that way. Zidane is a human, and each man has his limits and his tender spots, now we know his. Personally, there are certain things I would rather people hit me than say. I am not saying Zidane is right, but I understand where he is coming from.

On targeting key players, the days of football being a beautiful game are long gone. It seems to have come to "win by any means necessary." People say trash talk is a natural part of the game, I agree.The difference lies between something like "you're a bald old man" and " your mother is a 5 cent w***e. The second comment is absolutely unacceptable in any civilized conversation. Unless we like to believe footballers are naturally unethical?

I keep seeing "stick and stones" in many answers, but if this was the case then why is there such a thing as verbal abuse? A psychologist would tell you that some verbal abuse is more serious that physical abuse. People have committed suicide, taken their own lives, because of verbal abuse. You may call this being weak, but that fact of the matter is,words DO hurt you.

Answer 4

headbutting may not be worser than verbal abuse but since "seeing is believing" ZZ was made to look the culprit.

how do you prove verbal abuse in a football match? unless it's heard by the ref and it's in the language that the ref understands. what the ref "saw" or in this case, was informed by the 4th ref, he has to act.

now whether verbal abuse is worst depends on the abused victim. how well can he handle the abuse? what is the victim going to do? retort by verbal abuse? retort by physical action?

in ZZ's case, after playing football for 18 years, has he ever been verbally abused? if yes, what did he do then?

Answer 5

You are sooooooooooo Right, A headbut is and can be a serous thing but Verbal Abuse is worst because once something is said damage is done it can't be taken back, But a Headbut once it's done you recover and get back to the norm. But Headbutting is serous because if ya Headbut the WROUG PERSON, This can LAND YOU IN JAIL, that's if they decide to Press Charges. I WOULD LIKE TO LEARN HOW/The right way to HEADBUT,It seems like a good way to PUT A PERSON DOWN & THEN HAVE TIME TO RUN. LOL LOL LOL

Answer 6

from what i saw of the highlites zidane was taken down but the italian player then helped him up patted him on the back and then both exchanged a few words and out of now where the Frenchman gave the cheapest shot i have ever seen almost as bad as tyson biting holyfields ear. he deserved to be recarded if you cannot handle verbal abuse then you should stay locked up in your house your entire life because its a daily occurance that happens so suck it up.

Answer 7

We really shouldn't be comparing abuse and labelling one form better or less worse. Abuse is abuse and how bad it is can only be measured by the one being abused. It certainly smacks of unsportsmanlike conduct.

But about the 10,000 times worse...a smack to the middle of the chest can kill someone. Ask any motorcyclist who has had it happen to one of their fellow riders by a small bird. Or ask an airplane pilot who has lost an engine because it was hit by a bird in flight.

Answer 8

Verbal Abuse is worse cause the only way you can heal it is by talking it out with the person. but if you Physicaly Abuse the person back that's not going to be easy. i'm not siding with anyone on this case cause what they both did was wrong.

Answer 9

If I called you a mother f*c**r..Insulted your mother and your sister you'd want to headbutt me too.
I think Materazzi played his best acting scene in his career. Oscar nomination should be given to that poor excuse of a man.

Answer 10

obviosly it doesnt matter wat he said HHHHHHHHHHHHHHeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee got headBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBuuutttteeeeeeddddddd