[heygingersnap]

PARIS (AP) -- An apology, but no regrets and no detailed explanation on what set him off.

That's where French soccer star Zinedine Zidane left things Wednesday during widely broadcast television interviews that attempted to decipher his ugly head-butting of an Italian opponent during the World Cup final.

He did say he was spurred by cruel insults to his mother and sister. But the exact exchange between France's captain and Marco Materazzi remains a mystery. Zidane never was specific about what enraged him. So, for the moment, the words stay between them.

"I would rather have taken a punch in the jaw than have heard that," he told the Canal-Plus television network, stressing that Materazzi's language was "very harsh," and that he uttered the insults several times.

In his first public comments since Sunday's match, Zidane repeatedly apologized to fans -- especially to children. But he said he didn't regret the abrupt, violent outburst that marked the end of his illustrious 18-year professional career.

"I tell myself that if things happened this way, it's because somewhere up there it was decided that way," the 34-year-old midfielder said in an interview on TF1 television. "And I don't regret anything that happened, I accept it."

Zidane and Materazzi exchanged words after Italy broke up a French attack in extra-time. Seconds later, Zidane lowered his head and rammed Materazzi in the chest, knocking him to the ground.

Zidane was sent off, reducing France to 10 men. Italy went on to win in a penalty shootout with Zidane in the locker room.

The act of aggression marred the end of the World Cup, with many warning it would tarnish the legacy of Zidane, who retired after the tournament.

Wednesday, he stressed he felt no regret "because that would mean (Materazzi) was right to say all that."

"There was a serious provocation," Zidane said. "My act is not forgivable. But they must also punish the true guilty party, and the guilty party is the one who provokes."

For days, sports fans around the world have been riveted by the question: What could Materazzi have said to set Zidane off in the last few moments of his illustrious, 18-year career? Media from Brazil to Britain hired lip readers to try to figure it out, then came up with different answers.

Materazzi has acknowledged he insulted Zidane, without giving specifics. At nearly the same moment Zidane was on TV, excerpts from a Materazzi interview were posted on an Italian paper's Web site. He denied insulting Zidane's mother.

"I didn't say anything to him about racism, religion or politics," Materazzi told the Gazzetta dello Sport. "I didn't talk about his mother, either. I lost my mother when I was 15, and even now I still get emotional talking about her."

Zidane "has always been my hero," Materazzi said. "I admire him a lot."

Materazzi spoke to Zidane in Italian. Zidane, who played several years for Juventus in Turin, speaks Italian.

Despite the head-butt, Zidane was awarded the Golden Ball award for best player at the World Cup -- though FIFA president Sepp Blatter has suggested Zidane could be stripped of the honor.

"The winner of the award is not decided by FIFA, but by an international commission of journalists," Blatter said in Italian newspaper La Repubblica. "That said, FIFA's executive committee has the right, and the duty, to intervene when faced with behavior contrary to the ethics of the sport."

FIFA's disciplinary committee opened an inquiry Tuesday into Zidane's behavior. His red card was not unusual: Zidane was sent off 14 times in his career at the club and international level.

Despite his temper, Zidane is better known for his sportsmanship and dancer-like technique. He is a national hero for the French and a symbol of a young, multicultural France. Born to Algerian immigrants, Zidane grew up playing on concrete in an impoverished neighborhood of Marseille.

President Jacques Chirac has had only kind words for Zidane since the match -- reassuring him that France still "admires and loves him." Many in France already have pardoned Zidane: A poll published Tuesday in Le Parisien newspaper showed 61 percent of the 802 people questioned forgave Zidane.

Zidane said many people have asked him not to retire, but he said he would not change his mind.

"I won't go back on it, at least I hope so. ... It's definitive," he said.

Zidane told TF1 television he was "going to rest, and then move on to something else."

AP Sports Writer Andrew Dampf in Rome contributed to this report.

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=ap-w...p&type=lgns

[bluechilli]

i think most people forgive him already because in their eyes what he contributed to the game will far outweigh his final act in the final.

[eelijnim]

i think most people forgive him already because in their eyes what he contributed to the game will far outweigh his final act in the final.

definitely.
and he deserves the golden ball.

[Gitakawaii]

I'm proud of him for doing all this interviews and stuff..
and I'm glad he doesn't regret what he did and now I can understand why he did that headbutt to materazzi, HE'LL ALWAYS BE A LEGEND IN MY EYES

ALLEZ ZIZOU!

[xkrndreamer]

man if i was insulted like that i would have jump kicked the fool. i dont blame zidane one bit.

[apple red]

I dont blame Zidane..just regret that he couldnt wait 10 minutes longer and i will kick him on the face...

And if that was Materazzi said to his hero..what will he say to his enemy..

[Myss Blewm]

I dont blame Zidane..just regret that he couldnt wait 10 minutes longer and i will kick him on the face...

And if that was Materazzi said to his hero..what will he say to his enemy..

Haha, that's very true!! What a jerk! I will always be a Zidane fan! I don't want to encourage violence, but I understand the reason why Zidane's anger overcame him. So glad to see him handle this so gracefully. I hope people will see past this and move on with their lives. Zidane is a legend.

[Jeffversion2]

Didn't he say before that Materazzi called him a terrorist or something?

So I heard on ESPNews

[dark_chancellor]

Didn't he say before that Materazzi called him a terrorist or something?

So I heard on ESPNews

A claim with Materazzi denied, as he did when asked if he insulted Zizou's mother by saying that to him, mothers are sacred.

Which means no one is ever going to really know the whole story.

w00t.

[apple red]

A claim with Materazzi denied, as he did when asked if he insulted Zizou's mother by saying that to him, mothers are sacred.

Which means no one is ever going to really know the whole story.

w00t.

If you notice, Materazzi change the story everytime they interviewed him.
First, he lied to his father that he insulted Zidane. He said that he was the one who get insulted (yeah right..)
second he finally admitted that he insulted him as his arrogant manner as paid off , but he said not about his mother or terrorist.He corrected what his father said himself.
third he said that Zidane was his hero and sorry for his mother (if that what a fans did..who needs a fans )

Zidane would not tell the whole story because it was too hurt to said it...even with his own lips. He asked FIFA to watched the video replay themselves and take action. This words will not coming from a guy who hiding his mistake like Materazzi did.this coming from a man who ask for justice...Not bismich anyone or created new story

[ruffluv109]

he's the best player ever!!!! i'll always respect and love him!!!! daym that metarazzi for provoking him like that. That moron deserves that head-knock from zizou!!!!!


Fighting!!!!!Zizou!!!!!!

[BioEndoic]

Zidane pissed me off, his one moment of anger dragged the whole team down. Where's his responsibility for his team?

[`faded]

from what my mom told me on the news LOL supposedly Zidane got really cocky with materazzi saying that materazzi could have his jersey after the game..so Materazzi just said something like "I'd rather have your wife's shirt being taken off" lol that was on tv..on the news when they interview materazzi..LOL but I don't know =D

[Sol Doubt]

from what my mom told me on the news LOL supposedly Zidane got really cocky with materazzi saying that materazzi could have his jersey after the game..so Materazzi just said something like "I'd rather have your wife's shirt being taken off" lol that was on tv..on the news when they interview materazzi..LOL but I don't know =D

ya but then in the interview i read zidane said materazzi was pulling his shirt a lot and he told him to stop and if he wanted his shirt so badly they could trade it after the game or something. I think he said it more jokingly than to offend him, but you know whatever they can always take things the wrong way.

[jurassic5]

talked about his mom and sister....


guess Zidane would never be able to make it in the NBA or NFL.

talking smack is part of every sport....gotta just be focused and ignore everything people say. look at Jackie Robinson for example.....imagine if he would have retaliated for every comment, spiking etc that was directed towards him and his family.

[mikeee]

talked about his mom and sister....
guess Zidane would never be able to make it in the NBA or NFL.

talking smack is part of every sport....gotta just be focused and ignore everything people say. look at Jackie Robinson for example.....imagine if he would have retaliated for every comment, spiking etc that was directed towards him and his family.

good point, but from what I hear Materazzi repeatedly said death to your family... I mean if I was Zidane, I would be in the same situation, once, twice, ok, after that, I don't know if I'd headbutt, but I would have to do something to him...

[Hunnytokki]

It looked like he was walking away from his as Materazzi was talking. He was at fault for his violent conduct, and the red card was well-deserved, but I don't know how many people would be able to ignore that kinda trash talk when it's being repeated over and over.

I found Zidane's comment really funny. "If you want it that badly, I'll give it to you at the end of the game." THe guy's got a sense of humor. But, I guess it can come off as being arrogant to Materazzi especially coming from a player of his status.

[dark_chancellor]

talked about his mom and sister....
guess Zidane would never be able to make it in the NBA or NFL.

talking smack is part of every sport....gotta just be focused and ignore everything people say. look at Jackie Robinson for example.....imagine if he would have retaliated for every comment, spiking etc that was directed towards him and his family.

well..maybe there're certain things you just don't talk about for a guy.. everyone has something that they take pride in or cherish especially above everything else.. maybe his mom or his sister is terminally ill, or maybe they're both going through something traumtic in their lives, and you've been going through it with them. You can't just say he should just be focused and ignore everything because it's not like everyone can let EVERYTHING slide.. sometimes, there're just..things that are off limits.

[xsilentangel]

i think most people forgive him already because in their eyes what he contributed to the game will far outweigh his final act in the final.

[Tuffcore]

Somehow, sorry doesn't cut it.
He'll forever be remembered for his head butt.