E-mail this to a friendItalian footballer sues British newspapers for libel damages
Published 10/07/2007
Italian international footballer Marco Materazzi is pursuing a libel claim in the UK over reports of insults addressed to Zinedine Zidance during the last World Cup.
Following an exchange of words involving the pair in the tournament final in 2006, Zidane reacted by headbutting his opponent.
A number of British newspapers reported Zidane's account of the conversation, which was that Materazzi had insulted the player's recently deceased mother.
However, according to Materazzi it was the player's sister who was mentioned during the exchange.
Materazzi is seeking damages in the High Court from the Sun, the Daily Mail and the Daily Star, which he claims have made no moves to retract their allegations.
In the immediate aftermath of the on-pitch spat, Zidane was handed down a three-match ban and was ordered to pay a fine of £3,260, while Materazzi was barred from playing for just two games.
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