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Friday, 14 July 2006, 11:53 GMT 12:53 UK

Materazzi gives evidence to Fifa

Marco Materazzi arrives at the Fifa HQ Italy defender Marco Materazzi has given evidence to Fifa's disciplinary committee in Zurich regarding his conduct in the World Cup final.

Zinedine Zidane was sent off for headbutting Materazzi, who has admitted insulting the France captain.

"Marco was optimistic after the meeting - everything went fine," said the player's agent, Claudio Vigorelli.

Materazzi was due to meet disciplinary chiefs on 20 July, but that was brought forward as he is going on holiday.

The Italian, who was accompanied by his lawyer and Italian Football Federation external relations executive Sergio Di Cesare, was quizzed for an hour and a half at Fifa's headquarters.

"He gave his version of what happened and he will not have to return to Zurich at a later stage," added Vigorelli.

In an interview on French television Zidane, 34, said that his actions were in response to repeated harsh insults from Materazzi about his mother and sister - but he did not reveal exactly what was said.

"They were very hard words," Zidane said. "You hear them once and you try to move away."

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"But then you hear them twice, and then a third time. I am a man and some words are harder to hear than actions. I would rather have taken a blow to the face than hear that."

While admitting to insulting Zidane, Materazzi, 32, has denied referring to his opponent's mother or making racist comments.

A decision is expected on 20 July and, according to Fifa regulations, if Materazzi is found guilty of "dishonour" he could face a two-match ban and a £2,200 fine.

If the verdict is that the Italian is found to have been racist he could be fined £4,400 and suspended for five matches.

However, Fifa's spokesman added: "We cannot speculate upon what possible decision the disciplinary committee will take because each case is handled differently and we cannot compare one case to the next."

Prior to the meeting in Zurich, Vigorelli told BBC Radio Five Live: "I think, personally, that Fifa should only proceed against the real reaction.

"If Fifa want to attack a player for what he keeps saying on the pitch, they will be very busy in the future"
Materazzi's agent Claudio Vigorelli

"We love football and players like Zidane but his reaction was absolutely out of order especially in a big game like the final because it was his last game as a football player."

Vigorelli also warned that Fifa could be setting a difficult precedent, citing Francesco Totti's three-game ban for spitting at Denmark's Christian Poulsen during Euro 2004 as an example.

"I wonder why Fifa didn't open up a case against Poulsen two years ago in the European Championships in Portugal after the reaction of Totti.

"Totti was banned for four games, which was reduced to three, and nothing happened to Poulsen - this is absolutely a similar case.

"If they want to attack a player for what he keeps saying on the pitch, they will be very busy in the future because it's quite normal that players shout to each other in a game - especially when it's such a stressful game."

Zidane, who had announced he was retiring from football after the World Cup, was sent off eight minutes from the end of extra time.

At the time France were pushing for a winner, but as it was Italy went on to win the shoot-out 5-3 after the teams finished deadlocked at 1-1 after 120 minutes of action.

Zidane had opened the scoring for France in the seventh minute with a penalty, before Materazzi levelled things up on 19 minutes.



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