World Cup matches have a terrific atmosphere and they produce the greatest memories for the players as well as the spectators.
Zidane headbutt is one of the most popular scandal among all of greatest scandals that plagued the game.
French player Zinedian Yazid Zidane, nicknamed “Zizou”, is skillful with a football and most of the people in soccer community knew of him, but there was one skill which made him popular outside the soccer community, i.e the head-butt.
It was the 2006 World Cup in Germany, France was playing Italy in the final match of the tournament.
Zidane was in good form going into the match and scored a decisive penalty during the first half of the game which made France lead Italy by an one goal margin.
Italy’s Marco Materazzi levelled the score after the same and the game was tied at one-one. Even though both teams had their share of chances, they were unable to get the breakthrough and the match was pushed into extra-time.
It was extra-time, Zidane and Materazzi were having a confrontation while jogging past each other.
Materazzi was seen tugging Zidane’s jersey, Zidane started walked away from him. After some words from Materazzi, Zidane stopped, turned and proceeded to head-butt Materazzi, who fell down due to the force.
The Referee stopped the play and sent Zindane off the pitch, via a red card, in the 110 minute mark. The game went on to the penalty shootout stage and Italy won the game.
The tabloids had a field day with the incident, while Zidane was criticized.
Officials later found out that Zidane was provoked by Materazzi. Zidane informed Materazzi that he could have his jersey by the end of the game when he tugged Zidane’s jersey. Materazzi replied that he would have his sister instead, not knowing that Zidane had a sister. This provocation resulted into that head-butt by Zizou.
Note: Zindane had previously head-butted Jochen Kientz, a Hamburger SV player, during the 2000-01 Champions League.
Zidane Headbutt statue
To commemorate the Infamous head butt by Zidane to Materazzi, an Algerian artist named Adel Abdessemed created a giant bronze statue outside Paris’ Centre Pompidou, one of the world’s foremost modern art museums in 2012.
The work of art goes by the name “Coup de Tete,” which translates all too simply as “headbutt.”
The statue is 5-meter (16.4 feet) high. The smaller version of the statue had previously been exhibited in NewYork gallery.
In 2013 it was reported that the statue is now in the proud possession of Qatar Museum Authority (QMA). QMA bought the sculpture for undisclosed amount and it will be a permanently installation on the Corniche near Al Mourjan restaurant in Doha.
Wth Qatar hosting 2022 world cup, the statue will going to be top attraction for soccer fans.
