<---FROGIVENESS ASKED...
12 July 2006. Zinedine Zidane asked for forgiveness on Wednesday for his violent attack and sending off in the World Cup final, but insisted that he has no regrets as the words of Marco Materazzi were too much for him to bear.
"I want to apologise but I can't regret what I did because it would mean that he was right to say what he said," the France World Cup captain claimed.
"He pronounced very tough words about my mother and my sister. I tried not to listen to him but he kept repeating them.
"I don't want to attack anyone but I want to defend myself. I did something wrong and I was punished for that. I ended up alone in the changing rooms."
Zidane insisted that he tried to ignore the 6' 4" Italian, but couldn't stop himself.
"You hear those things once and you try to walk away. That's what I wanted to do because I am retiring. You hear it a second time and then a third time.
"I knew it was my last game and I knew that there were only ten minutes to play but things happened very swiftly."
However, he was not proud of his actions.
"I know this is something that one should not do. I want to say that loud and clear because it was watched by two billion people and by millions of kids."
FURTHER DENIALS
Materazzi meanwhile issued another statement denying that he had insulted Zidane's family or made any references to religion or politics.
"I didn't insult his mother. I lost my mother when I was 15 years old and still get emotional when I talk about it.
"Naturally, I didn't know that his mother was in hospital but I wish her all the best."
Zidane - born in Marseille - is the son of Algerian immigrants and has suffered taunts about his heritage throughout his football career.
"I didn't mention anything about religion, politics or racism," said Materazzi.
The Inter Milan defender even went so far as to claim hero worship of the French legend.
"Zidane is my hero and I have always admired him a lot."
ZIZOU FURY AT SYSTEM
Fifa is to investigate the incident while FIFA president Sepp Blatter has hinted that Zidane could be stripped of his World Cup golden ball award for best player.
Zizou was in no mood for reconciliation and criticised the officials' and authorities' handling of matters.
"If someone can read (Materazzi's) lips, they will show that I'm telling the truth. The one who is really guilty must be punished.
"I was the one who was provoked and I reacted. It is always the one who reacts who is punished, never the one who provokes and this is not fair."
