Zidane: I regret nothing

Zinedine Zidane has publicly apologised for his sending-off in the World Cup final, but claimed he did not regret his actions against Marco Materazzi.

Zidane, who was captaining his country in his final match before retirement, stated that Materazzi insulted his mother and sister in the seconds leading up to the incident, which saw the France midfielder thrust his head into the Italy defender’s chest.

“I reacted badly and I would like to apologise for it,” Zidane told Canal Plus.

“I would like to apologise because a lot of children were watching the match. I do apologise but I don't regret my behaviour because regretting it would mean he was right to say what he said.

“There was no tension with Materazzi before or during the match. He just put his hand onto my shirt and I told him to stop. I told him that if he wanted it I could give it to him at the end of the match.

“Then he said very harsh words to me and repeated them several times. I left but then I went back towards him and things went very fast. The words he said concerned my mother and sister.

“I heard them once, then twice, and the third time I couldn’t control myself. I am a man and some words are harder to hear than actions. I would have rather been knocked down than hear that.”