Sad Farewell for a Genius

Zinedine Zidane’s last act as a professional footballer was to headbut Marco Materazzi deliberately in the chest. It is a fact and it is inexcusable – but it is also a tragedy, because it is no way for a genius to leave the stage. That final was to be Zidane’s swansong and if he could have reprised his performance against Brazil it would have been enough – enough to cap the glorious career of a man who was for some considerable time the best player in the world and possibly even enough to win the World Cup for France.

No-one who loves football would have wished Zidane’s departure to be tainted by talk of shame and disgrace. He has given too much to the game for that. And no-one who has marvelled at his mesmerising ability with a ball or witnessed his modest, self-effacing conduct in interviews will find it easy to believe that he could have acted in the way he did without the most severe provocation. The possibility exists that he was goaded beyond the boundaries of self-control – a remark by Materazzi which, on the back of constant aggravation throughout the game proved to be the final straw.

That view is shared by many of his team mates and by manager Raymond Domanech, who observed dryly: “Materazzi is the man of the match, not Andrea Pirlo. He scored and he got Zidane sent off.”

And if that sounds far fetched, or too much like sour grapes, it should be remembered that the Italians have a certain reputation for the nature of their defensive strategy. The ability to identify and eliminate the attacking strengths of the opposition is in their very genes. Its chief characteristic is an utterly ruthless streak – cold, calculating, and hard as steel. It was evident from the first moments in the game, when Cannavaro powered into Thierry Henry and Zambrotta clattered into Patrick Vieira and in a more subtle way it was applied almost unrelentingly to Zinedine Zidane, until finally he snapped.

There is no doubt that Zidane’s action warranted dismissal, but his headbut was not seen by the referee or the linesmen. Elizondo may have lifted the card but he did so on the basis of information received by the 4th official, prompting FIFA to deny vehemently that France’s captain was sent off on the basis of video evidence. Apparently the 5th official has access to a TV monitor, but he is not permitted to act upon what he sees. That’s FIFA sense for you and there’s only one answer to it. Figo off.