FIFA hand Zidane AND Materazzi bans

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.

FIFA spokesman Andreas Herren told journalists: "Zinedine Zidane will be suspended for three matches and fined 7500 Swiss francs. However, the committee has taken note that he has declared his career is over and taken note of Zidane's pledge to do three days community service within FIFA's humanitarian activities."

Herren added: "Marco Materazzi will be suspended for two official matches of the Italian national team and fined the sum of 5000 Swiss francs for repeatedly provoking Zidane.

"In both of the players statements, the two players expressed regret over the incidents and presented their excuses to FIFA and the football community over what had happened. They both stressed in statements that the verbal provocation was of an insulting nature but not - and I stress - of any racist nature."

Match referee Horacio Elizondo, an Argentinian, and fourth official Luis Medina Cantalejo, from Spain, also spoke with the disciplinary committee.

Herren said: "I would like to reiterate that the fourth official saw the incident with his own eyes and did not see it on the monitor.

"The fourth officials are trained to see off-the-ball incidents and not just concentrate on the action where the referee is involved and the regulations state they are to report any violent incident to the referee."

Zidane will not be stripped of the golden ball he was awarded for being player of the tournament.

"It wasn't even discussed at the meeting," said Herren.

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Dominic Rooney said:

Their cash fines seem far too little for me - certainly w.r.t Zidane who has quit football. He should have paid around 100 000 francs for his disgraceful performance. I mean what the hell is the point of a match ban?

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native said:

"I remained cool when he (Materrazi) called my mother and sister
whores, even when he called me a terrorist. I only lost it when he
suggested that I should play for "Bafana Bafana"

Click to expand...

native said:

"I remained cool when he (Materrazi) called my mother and sister
whores, even when he called me a terrorist. I only lost it when he
suggested that I should play for "Bafana Bafana"

Click to expand...