FOR INTER MERDA
MARCO MATERAZZI:I'm called son of a whore
By BEN KINSELLA
MARCO MATERAZZI has pleaded with Italian fans not to chant “son of a whore” at him any more.
Yet that is exactly the taunt the Italy star used to provoke Zinedine Zidane’s infamous World Cup final headbutt.
Inter Milan defender Materazzi, who claimed his hearing with FIFA today went well, said: "It’s true that opposition fans sing ‘figlio di puttana’ — son of a whore — at me a lot.
"It has become a kind of a theme tune.
“But I hope non-Inter fans will now remember what I have done for Italy. If they sing it a bit less, that would be nice.”
Lip-readers said Materazzi insulted the French Algerian Zidane in extra-time during Sunday night’s showpiece in Berlin.
Zidane reacted by headbutting Materazzi in the chest.
The French midfielder, 34, was sent off in the last match of his career and Italy went on to win the final on penalties.
Materazzi was quizzed by FIFA investigators today.
But his agent Claudio Vigorelli said: "Marco was optimistic after the meeting. Everything went fine.
"He gave his version of what happened. He will not have to return to Zurich at a later stage."
The hearing was brought forward from July 20 as Materazzi is heading to the Maldivies on holiday this Sunday.
Vigorelli joked: "Do you know where Zidane will spend his holidays? It's just that the Maldives are small islands..."
Zidane insisted on French TV on Wednesday night that former Everton star Materazzi verbally abused his sister and mother.
FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings against Materazzi, 32, while Zidane has been invited to provide a written statement by July 18.
Materazzi will get a chance to respond before the players are called to a face-to-face hearing in Zurich on July 20.
The Italian said: “What was I supposed to do, put my head against his — come up with something stupid like I’ve done before?
“This incident hasn’t taken away my joy at winning the World Cup but it has suppressed it a bit.
“In Germany I made sure I didn’t miss anything — a goal, my sending off, a penalty given away, another goal, the sending off of Zidane, a penalty scored.”
Materazzi insists Zidane should keep the Golden Ball for best player at the tournament — which was voted for at half-time during the final.
The Inter ace said: “Leave him the award — he made everyone’s hands sore with applause.
“He won the Golden Ball for what he did on the pitch because he is the best.
“I changed shirts with Zidane after a Juventus match against my team at the time, Perugia.
“I have it in my cupboard at home. I have always worshipped Zidane the player.”
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2006320457,00.html