Post by Scott on Jul 12, 2006 14:54:09 GMT
From 365:
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has hinted Zinedine Zidane could be stripped of the Golden Ball award because of his actions in Sunday's World Cup final.
Football's international governing body have opened an inquiry into the incident which saw Zidane sent-off for head-butting Italy defender Marco Materazzi in the chest. Zidane has so far remained tight-lipped about what sparked the incident, although Materazzi has confirmed that he insulted the French captain.
"I have ordered our disciplinary committee to open an enquiry regarding that episode," said Blatter. "We will await the result before taking action. The presumption of innocence until proven otherwise is and remains a sacred principle."
He added in an interview to Italian national newspaper La Repubblica: "The winner of the award is not decided by FIFA but by an international commission of journalists.
"Having said that, FIFA's executive committee has the right and the duty to intervene when faced with behaviours that are against the ethic of sport."
Blatter, though, admitted he was "saddened" by Zidane's reaction and added the 34-year-old felt "he didn't merit any medal" after Sunday's final in Berlin.
He added: "I have known Zidane for many years. To have seen him react in that way left me saddened, for him and for fair-play.
"I have been told that he was really sad. I didn't see him after the game. He was apparently in bad shape.
"I was told that at the end of the game the French Federation executives asked Zidane to go and receive his medal and he replied that he didn't merit any medal."
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has hinted Zinedine Zidane could be stripped of the Golden Ball award because of his actions in Sunday's World Cup final.
Football's international governing body have opened an inquiry into the incident which saw Zidane sent-off for head-butting Italy defender Marco Materazzi in the chest. Zidane has so far remained tight-lipped about what sparked the incident, although Materazzi has confirmed that he insulted the French captain.
"I have ordered our disciplinary committee to open an enquiry regarding that episode," said Blatter. "We will await the result before taking action. The presumption of innocence until proven otherwise is and remains a sacred principle."
He added in an interview to Italian national newspaper La Repubblica: "The winner of the award is not decided by FIFA but by an international commission of journalists.
"Having said that, FIFA's executive committee has the right and the duty to intervene when faced with behaviours that are against the ethic of sport."
Blatter, though, admitted he was "saddened" by Zidane's reaction and added the 34-year-old felt "he didn't merit any medal" after Sunday's final in Berlin.
He added: "I have known Zidane for many years. To have seen him react in that way left me saddened, for him and for fair-play.
"I have been told that he was really sad. I didn't see him after the game. He was apparently in bad shape.
"I was told that at the end of the game the French Federation executives asked Zidane to go and receive his medal and he replied that he didn't merit any medal."
