"Guradian " suspects that Materazzi called Zidane "a terrorist" may be coz of his Algerian descent. read the follwing article from http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/matt_foot/2006/07/zidane_an_injustice_waiting_to.html Race, rage and the red card If Zidane's headbutt was in reaction to a racist taunt, what does that mean for Fifa's campaign to kick bigotry out of football? What a very sad end to the World Cup Final. We do not yet know for certain why Zinédine Zidane, the calmest, most skilful and most graceful footballer at the World Cup chose, 10 minutes from time, to take three steps up to Marco Materazzi and headbutt him in the chest. We know that seconds before, he had been laughing at the hulking centre-half, having just received a pinch in the chest. In their condemnation last night, the commentators last night, Shearer, Lineker and Hansen, showed no interest in what had caused this calm man to fly into such a rage. The Guardian today suggests that Materazzi called Zidane a "terrorist", presumably in some disgusting reference to his Algerian descent. This seems a compelling explanation for the anger of such an otherwise calm and collected player. If the account is true, Materazzi would be guilty of an offence in this country: racially aggravated disorderly conduct, on the basis of abuse of someone because of their nationality. Why should footballers put up with racist abuse or racially aggravated insults without protection? If it is crime off the pitch, why (if indeed it has happened) should Matterazi feel he can insult the best player in the world for his nationality? It is interesting to see that Shearer and his ilk can be sympathetic to Wayne Rooney, who kicked another centre-half in the gonads without any verbal provocation, but completely unsympathetic to Zidane, who may be reacting to racially aggravated abuse. Shearer actually responded to the Rooney incident by suggesting that the Manchester forward may want to stick one on his Portuguese colleague Ronaldo. If the Guardian account is true, what action will Fifa be taking against Matterazi, given its promotion throughout this World Cup of the Say No to Racism campaign?