Well, that ended on a sour note.

[hackthis_archive]

People suck.

Time and time again this sentiment is brought home to me, and yet I still keep on believing, and I tell you, it’s like beating my head against the wall or running smack into an Italian midlfielder.




I have been into football since before some of you were born. I've supported Italy and England and Scotland (who doesn't support Scotland, really?) and Ghana, and before they got so far up their own arse, the U.S., and I have what the Americans call a "zero tolerance policy" regarding racism.

Naturally, every sport has its problems, anyone who‘s ever played sport will tell you this; anybody‘s who‘s spent anytime observing or following a sport will know this. The 2006 FIFA World Cup motto has been 'Say No to Racism,' which my best mate and I have been discussing ad nauseum since the opening match, if only because of how shocked she was that they even had to have such a thing. For my part, I’ve just been eyeing them warily and saying, “We’ll see." People start to lose and they lose their minds, they revert to their basest most primal states, and what you should or shouldn't do seems to disappear into the ether.

So when that thing happened today something twigged for me, but I let it go, because I was happy for Italy. I remember 1994. I remember they killed someone's DOG after the penalty fiasco. I wanted Italy to win. And yet, the Zidane thing was just so fucking off kilter that it was like the Twilight Zone.

Zinedine Ziane is one of the most loved and respected footballers playing today. He's no Vinnie Jones. He's an ambassador for the sport. Headbutting Materazzi made no sense. It was Zidane’s last match. The man has retired. He was in the finals at the World Cup! He was the golden child! Of course my first instinct was to holler red card, which kattiya will attest to, but if Marco Matarezzi did what they're saying he did by casting racial slurs at Zidane, then not only to I renounce all my support of Italy, but I say good on Zidane for knocking Materazzi on his ass. Personally, I think Materazzi should be happy Zidane didn't punch him in the throat, because I certainly would've given it a go if it'd been me.

There's no call for racial slurs or sexist slurs or any of the other shit that seems to plague society in general when people can’t get what they want through skill and intelligence and playing on the level. I suppose if you’ve never been the victim of racism or sexism or blatant homophobia you can’t know what it’s like: the sheer anger and hatred, the blood curdling rage, the shame of being just that little bit different that you're being singled out, the sense of ‘what the fuck did I ever do to you?’ that pervades everything in your mind.

If you’ve never been the uncomfortable minority just trying to make your way, then what Zidane did might seem like “unsportsman-like conduct”, but if you’ve been there, you would probably condone -- nay support -- him too. I do. It may not have been nice, but I think it was pretty necessary.

And on that note the World Cup is over. Maybe something will change in the next four years, and we won't have to have incidents like this, but I won't hold my breath.


For further thoughts see what adrasteia said

Comments

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Thank you for posting this. My family just had a debate on the subject over dinner: my father and brother were saying that what Zidane did was inexcusable, while my mother and I were both sympathizing with him. Because racism is what's inexcusable--in any context, but especially in something like the World Cup, which I like to think is about the planet coming together, in support of one thing, in love of one thing. And that Zidane should get punished for what he did while Materazzi not only gets off scott free, but gets rewarded...it burns me up. A lot.

I hope you don't mind, but I'd like to link my mom to this, if that's okay.

[epj.livejournal.com]

I did *not* see the match, so I'm speaking on a strictly theoretical level here, but racial slurs or no, I think it was a dumb move. The linked article seems to indicate that Zidane being sent off was a turning point in the match. Which, I wonder, is more satisfying: head-butting the jerk who aimed racial slurs at you, or beating him in the World Cup Finals (and perhaps *then* head-butting him)? He's part of a team, and he let his team down by reacting the way he did. I just hope it was satisfying for him.

[3jane.livejournal.com]

And suddenly what Zidane did makes a lot more sense. I caught just the OT of the game, and was utterly baffled at such an apparently random bit of violence, but perhaps, then, for good reason.

[oconel]

Some players use anything to get on the other nerves and I think Zidane should have realised what the Italian guy was doing. It's not fair play, of course, but not being able to hear what the players are saying, the referee can do nothing and personally, I think that sucks.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

I highly doubt it's a matter of what's satisfying and more a matter of instinct and being upset over being treated so badly. It's always easier to say, well he should've just risen above it, but it's hard to rise above it when someone's insulting you to your face.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

People may say that Zidane debased himself by reacting in such a manner and letting this get to him, but they weren't the ones being insulted. It's always easy to say someone should take the high road if you're not the one ON the road. I think what Materassi did was cowardly and ignorant and any number of things, and the fact that he's rewarded for that, to me is inexecusable. The idea that "oh, well, that's just how it is" THAT is inexcusable, too. [/rant]

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

I'd seen the whole match, and truly it was an exceptional match to see, right up until that moment. That Materassi felt his team couldn't win on their own merits and had to resort to that sort of degradation says a lot about himself and the faith he doesn't have in his team.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

I'm sure he did know on some level what Materassi was doing, but that still doesn't make it right or excusable.

[rozza.livejournal.com]

That makes a lot of sense to me. I find it really hard to side with people who say "he should have known better." I think that is an ignorant and naive stance to take, for several reasons. The final game of THE sporting event of the year--rationality exists on the side of a dime, the air is thick with tension, and so on, especially if YOU are the captain of the team and you also happen to be mere minutes away from retirement. Throw in the abject circumstances of immigrants in France (which Zidane was intimately acquainted with, having experienced it himself) and such a reaction in such a time is almost predictable.

I also think that anyone who has ever been subjected to racial slur (and cracker so doesn't even count) completely understands where he is coming from. "He should have known better. He should have realized some players will do anything to get into your mind." Right. Whatever. I would have done the exact same thing. It's really difficult to think straight, to stay completely calm and cool when someone is deriding your very being. It's extremely easy to put on airs and pretend you would have behaved differently, even better, in a situation. How fucking pretentious!

Even though I study Italian, love the history and the culture of the nation, etc., I stopped supporting Italy the moment they relied on flopping to win against Australia. It took much of the honour of their win today, and if it's true about Materassi, then whatever is left is also gone.

[anitac588.livejournal.com]

Word and word again!!! I think that Zidane's reaction could be contributed to many thingslike finale, his last game, the fact that he missed that great chance for a goal with a head-knock, but it certainly does not deserve righteous judgements, dismissing Zidane's long years achievements like that.

I say good on Zidane for knocking Materassi on his ass. and I think what Materassi did was cowardly and ignorant and any number of things, and the fact that he's rewarded for that, to me is inexecusable. Yeah, the only thing why I am sorry that Zidane hit him was that he made himself a bad guy and Materassi's behaviour will just be shrugged off.

[oconel]

I'm not saying that's excusable, in fact, what I think is that both of their behaviours were inexcusable (though I can understand Zidane's reaction).

[rubymiene.livejournal.com]

As someone who *has* been a target of racial slurs, though not many, I certainly understand what Zidane did, but that doesn't mean I condone it. He let his instincts take over and it got him thrown out and possibly cost him a World Cup. Some things *are* more important, and other people who have been targets of racial attacks have been able to hold their temper. Materassi was certainly in the wrong, but I'm not supporting Zidane either.

[fivil.livejournal.com]

A foul is a foul is a foul, and I know you're supposed to take all kinds of trash talk on the field, being called this and that. And yeah, Zidane maybe should've taken it and let it go but this is a guy who's suffered from racism from early childhood to this day, in France, one of the xenophobic countries in Europe. It makes sense that that sort of shit makes this normally so good and reasonable player snap.

I was so blown away, as you can see from my entry on the final match, because Zidane never fucks up like that and I was for a long time until someone pointed out that the insult was racist. It made sense suddenly.

It's still an awful foul but now I understand why he did it better. I think it's sad that it came to that but fuck me, I would've slapped the shit out of that Italian, as well.

[lilith20godrich.livejournal.com]

*I remember 1994. I remember they killed someone's DOG after the penalty fiasco. *

Actually, after one of the World Cup football fans from Columbia killed not a dog, but a football player. Definitely the most insane and scary moment in football history.

And I agree with everything you said. I am big fan of Italy, but their victory today was dirty and low.

[cosmic.livejournal.com]

Poor Zidane, man. That's a really sad way to end a great, great career. Maybe I'm making excuses for him - I don't know, I'm not him and I wasn't there - but considering his shoulder must have still been in some serious pain, he possibly had a very tolerance for anything untoward at that time, and whatever Materazzi said... anyway, WORD to everything you said.

[militant-barbie.livejournal.com]

word, man. my boyfriend was just listening to the radio, and apparently Materazzi called Zidane a *terrorist*. I don't care if it was not 'sportsman-like*, no one should have to put up with that, and I support Zidane completely.

also, some caller on five live said Zidane should be used to this kind of abuse by now, enough to ignore it. WTF is that shit?!

[moonystone.livejournal.com]

Watched the game, too, and I am still pissed off as hell about how it ended.

The way Italy played against Australia and Germany just didn't justify their even getting this far. In my opinion, anyway. All this falling to the ground when hardly breathed at, whining as if the broke they're bones.

And then, against France, they were so aggressive, grabbing at the French players whenever the referees couldn't see it and other things. I'm ususally a very quite person, but that had me yelling at the screen.

I don't know if it was shown on other broadcasts, but here it was clearly visible that Materassi grabbed Zidane, holding him so he couldn't run and then walked after him calling him whatever. When it was something racist then he should've been hurt more, honestly. However high the tension, no one should ever stoop that low during a game. Fuck that, ever, never mind the circumstances!
BTW, doing karate most of my life, I'd say that Materassi pretended quite a bit (again) - being butted in the chest doesn't hurt that much, I know that from experience. I say, Materassi should be officially reprimanded for behaving like this. And Zidane should be remembered for the truly beautiful and majestic way of playing football instead of his temper.

The irony of the game is that France might have still won if that French guy who plays for Italy hadn't missed the goal. I do pity him somewhat.

[sockich.livejournal.com]

*delurks*

Yeah, okay, Zidane’s action makes a lot more sense now and, maybe I should think he should have "taken the high road", but honestly? Fuck that. Racism is inexcusable and should always be, well, punished and I totally understand and condone what Zizou did. Hell, I would have done the exact same thing. And sure, France might have won if he didn't do it and he should have known (and probably did) that Materassi was trying to provoke him and get him off the field (shows how much faith he has in his team) but it's understandable that he snapped. So yeah, you go Zizou.

As for Italy, I just started following football this year (someone on my flist pimped the German team all over and I fell in love) but I couldn't even begin to support Italy. They never showed much of good football and the way they played against Australia and Germany, well it was just cheap and they did not deserve to win.

Uh, yeah, kinda rambly, sorry. *g*

[serialkarma.livejournal.com]

That Materassi felt his team couldn't win on their own merits and had to resort to that sort of degradation says a lot about himself and the faith he doesn't have in his team.

I was wondering about that when I was reading the article: It's inexcusable no matter what, but if it was something he did *calculatedly* in an effort to get Zidane to do just what he did and lose his temper...that's just pathetic and cowardly and utterly vicious.

[epj.livejournal.com]

It's probably because I work with kids--I need people to control their knee-jerk reactions because it's what I ask my kids to do all the time. :)

[goss.livejournal.com]

Well I have experienced racism up close and personal in very disturbing ways, but my own reaction is usually personal hurt/sadness rather than anger/violence to the other person. And after a while you just learn to deal... :\

Obviously I think how Zidane reacted is understandable, but for a grown man and team captain it's pretty irresponsible IMO.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

And yes, you can link your mommy :)

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

That makes a lot of sense to me. I find it really hard to side with people who say "he should have known better." I think that is an ignorant and naive stance to take, for several reasons. The final game of THE sporting event of the year--rationality exists on the side of a dime, the air is thick with tension, and so on, especially if YOU are the captain of the team and you also happen to be mere minutes away from retirement. Throw in the abject circumstances of immigrants in France (which Zidane was intimately acquainted with, having experienced it himself) and such a reaction in such a time is almost predictable.

I also think that anyone who has ever been subjected to racial slur (and cracker so doesn't even count) completely understands where he is coming from. "He should have known better. He should have realized some players will do anything to get into your mind." Right. Whatever. I would have done the exact same thing. It's really difficult to think straight, to stay completely calm and cool when someone is deriding your very being. It's extremely easy to put on airs and pretend you would have behaved differently, even better, in a situation. How fucking pretentious!

And this is why I heart you, Roz. Amen.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

First, and most shallowly, I love your icon and want to have its babies.

A foul is a foul is a foul, and I know you're supposed to take all kinds of trash talk on the field, being called this and that. And yeah, Zidane maybe should've taken it and let it go but this is a guy who's suffered from racism from early childhood to this day, in France, one of the xenophobic countries in Europe. It makes sense that that sort of shit makes this normally so good and reasonable player snap.

Second, I think that every instance should be taken on its own merits. Sometimes you just think, fuck it and walk away, and sometimes, like when you're already aggravated and hurting, you lash out.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

Okay, thank you for straightening that out, I was all het up when I wrote this and I knew that that wasn't quite right. I knew someone had gotten death threats, and a dog had been killed, and that both Colombia and Italy figured in there heavily.