Top 10 World Cup controversies
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E-mail China.org.cn, May 30, 2014
2. Zidane headbutts Materazzi, 2006
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This is undoubtedly the most controversial exit the sport has ever seen.
Zidane was on the top of his game in the 2006 World Cup after he almost single handedly put France in the final.
Zidane put France ahead in Berlin with the most stunningly-taken penalty kick likely to be seen in a World Cup final, only for Marco Materazzi to equalize after 19 minutes with a header.
Zidane then went from hero to zero after he was sent off in the 110th minute of the game for headbutting Materazzi in the chest, leaving France with 10 men for the last 10 minutes. Zidane didn't participate in the penalty shootout which Italy won 5-3.
It was later discovered through interviews that Materazzi had insulted Zidane's mother and sister, which led to Zidane's heightened anger and reaction. In 2010, Zidane said that he would "rather die than apologize" to Materazzi for the headbutt in the final, but also admitted that he "could never have lived with himself" had he been allowed to remain on the pitch and help France win the match.
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