Zidane and Nipplegate

Those of you who were among the billion or so who watched the World Cup finale yesterday may have been shocked to see French star Zinedine Zidane head butt Italian player Marco Materazzi in the chest. At a crucial moment, no less, in overtime and with crucial penalty kicks looming as two tired teams didn't look close to breaking the 1-1 tie. As it was, Zidane got the red card and Italy won 5-3 on penalty kicks.

Why did Zidane, who was retiring after the game and could have gone out with a bang, go out with a shameful whimper? Reportedly, a rumor was quickly posted on Wikipedia that Materazzi had called the Algerian Zidane a terrorist; it was taken down and now the article is locked from editing.

The French players are spreading the racial epithet story. But a live blog-style accounting of the game minute-by-minute on the Guardian site claimed that Materazzi had twisted Zidane's nipple. A writer in the Belfast Telegraph is agreeing. Last night, a group of fellow journalists and I watched the tape over and over again -- and yelled the gratuitous "Ooohh!" every time Zidane-as-bull slammed his bald head into Materazzi's chest -- and we, too, agreed with the nipple-twist theory.

Zidane and Materazzi had been tangled up on a play. Just after, Materazzi, behind Zidane, reaches around Zidane's left side with his left hand and -- it appears -- tweaks. Zidane looks over his right shoulder with a "what the hell?" look on his face. The two separate and appear to exchange words. Zidane walks a few steps ahead of Materazzi, calmly turns and head-butts Materazzi. Materazzi flies onto his butt and lies on the field for a while.

Zidane's attack was classless, cruel and just plain silly. But, pointed out one of my colleagues, Materazzi could have come up with the perfect strategy for getting Zidane thrown out of the game:

1. Twist his nipple
2. Say something about his mama
3. Crumple like a leaf when he attacks
4. Keep your face planted in the grass until that red card comes out

That being said, the French excuses are aplenty, and it's pretty annoying. Zidane did a bad thing. But everybody's focusing on what Materazzi said to provoke him, instead of what he did. Call it the Janet Jackson incident of the World Cup.

Tape of the incident off French TV here

Comments

[Lewis B. Sckolnick]

We will now return to Latin American politics.

[Jim Ellison]

The blow could have been fatal. Commotio cordis is the heart stopping from a sharp blow to the chest. The guy should be arrested.