France legend Zinedine Zidane "would rather die" than apologise to
Marco Materazzi, who he headbutted during the 2006 World Cup final.
World football was left stunned when Zidane, in the last game
of his career, attacked Materazzi in extra time - an action which
saw the France captain duly dismissed.
Italy went on to win the World Cup in a penalty shoot-out and
while Zidane admits he regrets what he did, he insists he will
never apologise to Materazzi because of the insults against his
mother which he claims provoked the headbutt.
"Of course I reproach myself," Zidane told El Pais. "But, if
I say 'sorry', I would also be admitting that what he himself did
was normal. And for me it was not normal.
"Things happen on the pitch. It's happened to me many times.
But I could not stand it there. Because moreover...it is not an
excuse. But my mother was ill. She was in hospital. This people did
not know.
"But it was a bad time. More than once they insulted my
mother and I never responded. But there...and it happened.
"And to apologise for this...if it was Kaka, a regular guy, a
good guy, of course I would have apologised. But to this one...
"If I ask him forgiveness, I lack respect to myself and to
all those I hold dear with all my heart.
"I apologise to football, to the fans, to the team... After
the game, I went into the dressing room and told them, 'Forgive me.
This doesn't change anything. But sorry everyone'.
"But to him I cannot. Never, never...it would be to dishonour
me...I'd rather die.
"There are evil people. And I don't even want to hear those
guys speak."
Zidane's actions stunned the world as not only was the France
captain a footballing icon but he had also steered well away from
controversy during his distinguished career.
The 37-year-old lists two Serie A titles with Juventus and
two Primera Division titles and a Champions League with Real Madrid
as well as the 1998 World Cup among his trophy haul.
Zidane, who joined Real Madrid in their first 'galacticos'
era, is now special advisor to president Florentino Perez.
And the former midfielder has hailed Madrid's latest crop of
expensive players - including world record buy Cristiano Ronaldo.
He said: "Cristiano Ronaldo wants to be the best. And he says
so.
"It's one thing to say it and another to do it. He says it
and then gets up early to go to training at eight in the morning,
two hours before scheduled. And he stays there six hours.
"People say he is a show-off, but he's noble. A good lad and
worker. Playing every three days you can't do silly things and he
knows it.
"And if they jeer him, he doesn't care. The opposite, he
likes it!"
