Who agrees that the decision made by FIFA is RIDICULOUS?

Question

Banning (Zidane) a retired soccer player from matches??
Fineing and banning Materazzi for two matches which will mean he'll miss the two opening games of Euro 2008 !!

We talk about racism, in this case I think FIFA is being RACIST!!!

I'd totally agree with Paolo Maldini:

However Paolo Maldini, captain of AC Milan and former captain of Italy's national team said FIFA's ruling was scandalous.

"It's scandalous to suspend a player for having said something. It's the first time it's been done and it's only because Materazzi is Italian and because they wanted to justify the action of a great champion (Zidane) but who was in the wrong."

Maurizio Lupi, a deputy of Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia party also condemned the ruling.

"It's a disgraceful sentence that shows yet again how Italy's football federation carries no weight at FIFA."

JTz : Sorry my mistake...I was too upset that I wrote it wrong!

Sonie...I never once said that Materazzi doesn't make up the whole team (which is true) but don't put words in my mouth!! Secondly why don't you go back to all your answers and questions and than just think for a minute!! You're trying to make me believe that you're not being bias...Please give me a break!!

Ciao soccer_mind !!

I totally agree with you, but I would hope that Totti would take some legal action against Fifa..this is totally not fair!!

FIFA ; Materazzi DIDN'T bad mouth him on racism...even Zidane admitted to it!!

Answer 1

Ciao Juventina, just answering with the same text I have posted previously, where "Sonie" applauds FIFA's decision:

It is so funny to read comments like the one from "Sonie" who "...I applaud FIFA for doing the best they could with a very touchy situation..."
Soccer is a sport and like any other sports has its own rules and it has its own way of judgment process: "Sonie" is talking about this sport like if it is in a court of law (American).
WHAT FIFA has done is disgraceful and it is setting a VERY dangerous precedent: the punishment of who commits a violent act is very close to the one who provoked. That was never done before. If Materazzi did not answer FIFA’s investigators, there was no way for them to know what was said on the field.
Soccer fans for all over the world (England, Spain, Brasil, etc...) can easily recall so many other episodes where the player who reacted has been severely punished and no punishment was given to the provoker.
In Euro 2004, Totti was suspended for three games (never ejected from the field) because he spat on a Danish player (Poulsen).
That action was brought to the Official's attention by a Danish TV: how come there was no investigation on Poulsen? How come he was not suspended?
And if we really want to "applaud" FIFA (UEFA in this case), how come all the focus of the media was toward Totti's action, while Denmark and Sweden tied a game 2-2 (the only possible score needed to eliminate Italy - 1-1, 0-0, 3-3 or a winning from any of the two teams would have qualified Italy) and there was no investigation at all!!!

I am wondering what would have happened if the Zidane's headbutt happened in games other than the final: FIFA would have needed to decide in a very short time and there was no way that Materazzi would have punished, because none of the referees have heard what was said on the field. How come De Rossi was given 4 games suspension and Zidane only three? How come McBride wasn't investigated for possibly provoking De Rossi act? How come Mastroeni was suspended for three games? And how come Pirlo was not investigated for provoking the American player.
Seems to me that FIFA have not been partial and the Officials have been biased toward Zidane’s name and his Federation.

It is so clear that FIFA, once again, have shown a disgraceful political action and a ridiculous judgment has been imposed with arrogance and incompetence.

It is interesting to see how the whole soccer world has been shocked and surprised about the absurdity of the verdict.
Only "Sonie", FIFA Officials (Platini is part of them), few others and French Football Federation president Jean-Pierre Escalettes think that it was an intelligent verdict!

Answer 2

I think it is outrageous!
So, now players can't speak, yell or course during a match?!
Give me a break!

The people at FIFA should get real. That happens all the time, and it is not a justification for attacking a player. Totti was suspended a while ago for spitting another player, and he was red-carded. Why didn't they wonder then what the player might have said to him?!
I agree with what Paolo's say (by the way, it was nice to hear back from him), it is just a justification, and it doesn't make FIFA look good. It would have been better if there were no fines, no community serves, and Mr. Zidane had to return his Golden Ball. A player that gets a RED CARD, even at the end of his last match, does not deserve to win that award. Period.
He shoudl have been eliminated from competition the moment it happened.
I think FIFA officials were seduced by the media supporting Zidane and by the constant comments of these supposed brazilian lip-readers that interpreted what Materazzi said.
Give me a break!!!
Mr. Zidane is a great player! I love to see him play! But that was really unnacceptable. Period. He's been playing for several years and he should have known better. (Besides, I can bet you is not the first time he's heard an offense).

Forza Matterazzi.
And I hope now italian lawyers seek a case to redeem Totti for that Red Card. What's good for Zidane is good for all.

Goodluck!

Answer 3

It's Fair - like it or not it was placed in the rules and FIFA did have to act on it. Even Cannavaro stated that what Materazzi said to Zidane was very, very, ugly. It will probably be a very long time before any of us will know the truth of the matter but in the meantime it puts the case to rest. Zidane is out - retired - like him or not, he is serving his penance in the only way he can given that he will not be returning to the pitch. Materazzi can now say that what he said was wrong and that he accepts FIFA's ruling. He can actually redeem himself in the end by accepting the consequences of the decision whether he agrees with it or not. In truth, FIFA could have been far more outreaching in how they choose to resolve this issue but it seems they have effectively dealt with the issue without being unduly punitive to either offender. I'm sorry that you don't feel that way. I truly respect the passion with which you support the Italian team but in the long run I think you will agree that this is a decision that everybody concerned can live with. As has been said in the past, Materazzi does not make up the entire Italian team. There are many other good players and no reason to think that they can't go out there and accomplish what needs to be accomplished in the qualifiers without him. In fact, if they do, how humbling that would have to be for him to see that they can win without all the nastiness he brings into the game.

Juventine, I'm not sure what your talking about. I don't recall ever saying that you'd said Materazzi made up the whole Italian team. In fact I believe that you and I agreed that we both had a lot more admiration for Cannavaro and Buffon. They are truly exceptional players and sportsman. As for bias. Please....I'm in the US and certainly don't support the French. For that matter unless the US shows its worth the effort, I'm not even a real fan of theirs. My background is Irish and Scottish and they didn't even qualify. My comments about the game between Italy and France was strictly from an sideliner's view with no real interest in who one or lost. I love the game of soccer. I've said it before and I'll say it again...I think that France played the better game that day BUT they lost. They did not lose because of Zidane or Materazzi although I was at least willing to entertain the idea that what happened may have effected the players attitudes going into the penalty shots. I swear to you that the last thing I was trying to do was offend you. I'm going back right now to see what I said and if it in any way appears offensive I will immediately edit it. OOPS! I stand corrected. If you say you weren't the one that said it, I believe you. Too many questions....too many responses on this issue. NOTE: My response has been amended.

Answer 4

I just read the news in "la Gazzetta dello Sport" and yeah, it's kind of ridiculous because it is also stated that Fifa found out that Materazzi didn't say anything racist.

I was in favor of punishing him only in case he had said something racist. Since he didn't, it's kind of pathetic.

However, if Nesta gets back, Italy won't miss Materazzi in those two qualifying games. Don't worry, we''ll still do well ;-)

What really pisses me off is the following: Zidane was banned for one more day and fined a larger amount of money, which means that Fifa found him to be a little more at fault than Materazzi. Based on this consideration, I think Fifa should have revoked his Golden Ball.

Answer 5

It is a horrible precedent to start. I hope Fifa knows what they have done by starting this. Just now they will want the player to play the game in silence.

Ole talk is part of the game. Both parties admitted it was not a racist comment that was made, so what is the problem? So I talk about yuh sister and tell yuh f... off.

Fifa loooking more and more stupid by the moment. Because the true end result is, they end up punishing on Materazzi, because Zizou already retired. So 3 game ban to him is meaningless.

How stupid can you get, but then again, look at the head of Fifa...a corruption man.

Answer 6

Yes I totally agree that it's ridiculous...........a bit soft. Zidane has not really been punished, £3,260 is like pocket change for a footballer like Zidane, also community service with children, I won't call that punishment at all, Zidane wants to work with children anyway. I think Materazzi got worse punishment than Zidane cause he actually won't be able to contribute to two matches. I do respect Zidane for defending his family and apologising to the children and I don't really like Materazzi but I must be fair and say that both deserved punishment but the person who committed the worse act received the lesser punishment!

Answer 7

I agree with you on this one! I am more of a Zidane fan than I am of Materazze, but I don't think that they should have suspended him, mabey a small 10k fine or something. I do think that its definately political just like every sport that makes a huge profit.

I don't think that taunting is punishable by suspension, unless you are doing it to an official, when I think that what ever punishment is given is due to the player. Taunting is done in every sport, who knows what is being said in the superbowl game between players, or what the catcher says to the hitter in a world series game, its all a lure to get you to f**ck up in the game, I doubt that anyone really wishes harm on someones sister or mother. Its a stratagy that has been going on for years, and if they are going to do something about it then they need to do something all the time, not just because your an ambassador to the sport.

Answer 8

Materazzi deserves a 5 game ban.

Answer 9

FIFA should have taken the golden ball away from zizou a long long time ago. the best player should be one who CONTROLS his anger and not take it out on other players. materazzi just used words, words mean NOTHING. italy may be full of theatrics, i can admit that, i'm pure bred italian, but c'mon at least Italy doesn't need to constantly get penalty kicks for advance(FRA VS. PORT = 1-0 PK) and their ATTEMPT TO WIN THE CUP with that cheap shot. w/o zidane, FRANCE IS NOTHING, they deserved to have zidane gone cause it is ITALIA'S TIME TO SHINE!!!!

Answer 10

Materazzi doesn't miss the first 2 Euro 2008 games, he misses the first 2 Euro 2008 QUALIFIERS.