FRANCE playmaker Zinedine Zidane has been handed a three-match ban and a fine for his World Cup final head-butt on Italy defender Marco Materazzi who himself has been suspended for two games and fined for provoking the incident.
FRANCE playmaker Zinedine Zidane has been handed a three-match ban and a fine for his World Cup final head-butt on Italy defender Marco Materazzi who himself has been suspended for two games and fined for provoking the incident.
With Zidane having quit football after the World Cup final the ban is academic but the 34-year-old will instead spend three days working with world governing body FIFA. Zidane was fined 7500 Swiss francs (£3,260) while Materazzi must pay 5000 Swiss
francs (£2170) for the incident which occurred in extra-time of the World Cup final with the match poised at 1-1.
Italy, who had been under pressure before Zidane was sent off, went on to win the final 5-3 on penalties while the France midfielder later complained that Materazzi had provoked him with remarks about his family.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here