Rock the Crossbar: I love Zidane

Monday, July 10

I love Zidane

Since when do we use video replays? Farcical FIFA do it again.

21 Comments:

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By gooner71, at 12:26 PM
Me too. Gotta believe that Materrazzi said something vile, like, "Oi, Baldy!"

Busby would have reacted the same way, every time.

Play the "Nut Materrazzi" game here

http://www.gazzetta.it/openxlink.shtml?http://widelec.org/zidane.html

By gooner71, at 12:26 PM
gooner71, on the other hand, would have reacted by lulling Materrazzi to sleep with his football rattle stories before picking up the ball and scoring the winner past the sleeping Italian defender.

By TheBusbyBoy, at 12:59 PM
You left out the 14 stepovers, but this is essentially correct.

By gooner71, at 1:15 PM
Fifa claim they used no video so who knows? I dont care if they did do it, he deserved to go - it doesnt matter to me how they got him.
Good final though - enjoyed it. Zidane though... what in Gods name was he thinking.

By WhatsupWheaton Simon, at 1:18 PM
Yeah the US commentators were saying that the incident was replayed on the big screen before the red card was issued which I found unbelievable. I'm with Rich on this one. If they did show replays and the linesman or fourth official used it before talking to the ref its a disgrace. When FIFA decide to use video evidence for certain incidents I am fine with that but, until they do, they cannot use them at all during the course of a game.

Having said that though, I read the following this morning:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/worldcup/2006/07/a_fitting_final_for_the_world_1.html

"Confusion reigned inside the stadium when Zidane was dismissed because the incident was not replayed on the two big screens."

What the hell were the US Commentators on about then?

The argument then changes from "did all the officials glance up at the big screen?" to "did the fourth official see a reply on his small tv?"

Finally, does this ref's actions for this red card shed some new light on the red he gave Rooney?

FIFA seem to be saying today that the ref got word in his headset from the 4th official who saw it live. The ref seemed to let everything calm down, trotted over the lineman for a second then showed the red? If this is his style of issuing a red card, does it make it more likely that he did in fact see the Rooney "stamp" and did not send him off for the push on Ronaldo?

By TheBusbyBoy, at 2:03 PM
Hurrah, me and Johno on the same side!

Here's what allegedly sparked it all off..

Materazzi:

_ "meritate tutti ciò, voi gli enculato di musulmani, sporchi terroristici" (You all muslims deserve it, mother fucker, you are all terrorists).

By Rich Hughes, at 2:27 PM
Trust nothing that the British press reports.

Materazzi denies calling Zidane a "dirty terrorist" but that is the leading theory at the moment next to calling his sister a prostitute. Another school of thought thinks Zidane was accused of using steroids. I don't know. I think it must have been a very racist thing said that touched on his family.

Zidane's agent was qouted as saying "Materazzi said something very grave but he (Zidane) did not say what it was. This is a man that normally lets things like this pass over him. Sunday evening, something inside of him exploded. He is very disappointed and sad. He did not want to end like this"

http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-669420,36-794188@51-734920,0.html

By Chris P, at 4:03 PM
Yes the rumour at the mo, including Soccernet is the dirty terrosit theory. If its true then he needs to be publicly slandered - if not then Zidane needs to say what.

I dont mind Zidane being caught because we all would have said he should have been sent off and how could all the officials miss it anyway? I think video evidence is fine - but they need to standardise who they use it. However, there is no proof that the assistant used video, just speculation. I am glad Zidane saw red. Just wish FIFA did all of them with videos if that's what it takes.

By WhatsupWheaton Simon, at 4:12 PM
Disgaree...

Video to be used after the fact but not during the game, unless you want an American football type specticle with stopages every 2 mins.

By Rich Hughes, at 4:21 PM
Correct. No way should the incident been replayed on the big screen. I don't believe that any of the officials saw it, but how could they ignore it if they were the only ones inside the stadium that didn't.

If he was abused by Materazzi, Zidane should have no qualms about saying exactly what it was that he said. I don't know that Materazzi has previous making racist remarks but he has a very justified reputation as a play-acting thug.

By gooner71, at 4:32 PM
Thats true, I probably shuold clarify I dont want instant video at games - but I am still not sure what anyone (including the fans) saw. Seems to be some confusion.
I wouldnt want video at games but I would love to see retrospective action, particularly for diving. Had they not sent off Zidane yesterday we would say it was poorly reffed so they came to right decision, by fair means or foul.

By WhatsupWheaton Simon, at 4:46 PM
There is a code of honour among players of most sports where what is said on the field remains on the field. I am not sure we will see Zidane come out and reveal what was said to him. I think he is fuming at one person right now and thats himself for reacting and playing right into the Italian's hands. Italy deserved nothing yesterday and played for penalties once the equalised.

By TheBusbyBoy, at 5:10 PM
But FIFA spokesman Andreas Herren saidt: "The fourth referee saw the incident with his own eyes and told the referee and the assistant referee directly though their headsets."

"FIFA say although the fifth official does have a TV monitor, he is not permitted to intervene, and the fourth official has no access to video replays. "

So why is he giving advice, then?

By Rich Hughes, at 10:57 PM
I just finished listening to the Baddiel and Skinner podcast. The two of them were at the game and were completely shocked that Zidane was sent off. They are recorded speculating as to why, which indicates to me as if the incident was not replayed on the screen. In fact, it was right before the end of extra time that one of Skinner's friends texted him about the chestbutt. Not a definitive answer, but maybe FIFA and the linesman didn't make a hash of this after all.

By gooner71, at 9:02 AM
Courtesy of Burkey's Dad:
"The Italian lip readers are hard at it on behalf of the BBC.
According to radio 5, Mazzerati said-you are the son of a terrorist whore and according to bbc tv he said-i hope your mother and all your family die a horrible death and this on the day that zidane heard that his mother was seriously ill.
the journalists all say that Lehmann was the best Premiership player in the entire world cup-ahead of Henry, Gerrard, etc. Good for Jens."

By WhatsupWheaton Simon, at 9:33 AM
Saw something similar in Daily Mail as per Burkey's dad.

On the other hand, LeMonde has only printed what was in the Italian Gazzetta dello Sport in which Materazzi denies calling him a terrorist or insulting his mother.

The quote is "I grabbed his shirt for a few seconds, he turned towards me and he railled at me with a look of super arrogance 'If you want my shirt I will give it to you afterwards'. I responded with an insult, that is true" "An insult that one has heard dozens of times and which slips out of our mouths often" "For me, the mother is sacred" Materazzi lost his mother when he was 14.

By Chris P, at 9:43 AM
This is what happens when you have dirty frogs playing dirty i-ties in a final! I agree with the "code of honor" concept, especially after I got sucker-punched this year (in the face, no less) in my over-40 league by some Medfield (MA) jackhole. He ran away and hid when I tried to get at him; I was held back, WWE-style, by four teammates. Funny thing is, I was trying to BREAK UP a fracas when I got hit. So, is it a failure to communicate? Who knows? The lip readers have clearly failed in Berlin. In the internet age of instant replay, Zidane's action has been cemented - the build up to it matters not. A stellar career will now be mocked in blooper videos. At least it takes some of the acid away from Rooney!!!

By GAC, at 9:58 AM
Butter wouldn't melt in Materazzi's mouth:

"I am ignorant, I don't even know what an Islamic terrorist is;

Could he be the only person in the world who doesn't know (or at least thinks he knows) what an Islamic terrorist is?

I loved that slapper Judy Foudy's analysis that she would have left Henry on despite the fact he couldn't walk anymore with cramp.

I watched the third place game in a bar where the Red Sox were on other TVs and they had the Red Sox sound. Its funny, I honestly didn't even notice which says a lot about how I have just drowned out the commentary over the past month.

By TheBusbyBoy, at 11:53 AM
Fortunately, Foudy is not yet enshrined in the National Soccer Hall of Fame (Oneonta, NY).

http://www.soccerhall.org/famers/famer_by_name.updated.htm

GAC championships at any level: one (state club championship as a player)

Ramos, Balboa, Wynalda combined championship titles at any level: ZERO (Hall of Famers)

By GAC, at 1:19 PM
GAC for the hall of fame! What state was it though and what club?

By TheBusbyBoy, at 1:49 PM

Rock the Crossbar

Monday, July 10

I love Zidane

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