Zidane's Penchant For The Ridiculous Red
In the light of Zidane's head-butt, Goal.com recalls some of the
previous occasions when the legend saw red along similar
lines.
A true footballing legend, it seems Zidane has always had a
penchant for red cards, particularly over incidents off the
ball.
Here are a few which immediately spring to mind.
World Cup 1998 (vs. Saudi Arabia)
(Stamping)
What better place to start than the competition that made
him!
It was a first round match against minnows Saudi Arabia, which
could be why it faded from memory sooner than this one will.
Besides, he was hardly the icon that he is now.
The act itself was an incident which took place off the ball, as he
retaliated in anger by stamping on Saudi skipper Fuad Amin.
He was immediately sent of by the referee, with twenty minutes left
on the clock, and subsequently handed a two match suspension.
However, unlike this time, that was a match France won at a canter.
Also unlike this time, he would get a chance to redeem
himself.
And the redemption couldn't have been better, with some fabulous
displays to guide France to their first World Cup, including a
brace in the 3-0 win over Brazil in the final.
However, not all in the Saudi Arabia camp were happy with the
regulation two match suspension that he had received, for the very
deliberate stamp.
Champions League 2000-01 (vs. Deportivo and vs. Hamburg)
(Head-butting)
He had just won the European Championships with France that summer,
and was one of the favourites to win the World Player of the Year
award again, after 1998. Indeed, one of the toasts of world
football!
However, September and October saw him pick up consecutive red
cards for Juventus in the Champions League, either side of the
suspension. The second one, against Hamburg in October, becomes
particularly relevant now.
Zidane got a direct red, for another incident which had little to
do with the ball. His offence? A head-butt on Jochen Keintz!
So outrageously violent was the head-butt, that he was immediately
handed a five match ban by Uefa. Incidentally, it was also his
tenth career red card.
That, after he had only just returned from suspension following his
ninth, picked up against Deportivo la Coruna, in the same
competition a month earlier
He went on to win the World Player of the Year award just a couple
of month later, while still suspended from Champions League action
for his club, in what received heavy criticism from certain
quarters.
Copa del Rey 2003-04 (vs. Sevilla)
(Slapping)
In February 2004, Sevilla came to El Bernabeu for the second leg of
the 'Cup' semi-final, with Real Madrid favourites thanks to a 2-0
win in the first leg.
However, Zidane lost his head following a challenge and slapped
Sevilla defender Pablo Alfaro smack in the face. He was duly sent
off, and Real Madrid seemed to be all at sea, as Sevilla had
already scored once.
But the visitors also had Javi Navarro sent off, and Real somehow
managed to restrict them to a 1-0 win, thereby qualifying for the
final on aggregate.
Primera Liga 2003-04 (vs. Deportivo)
(Kicking)
Deportivo certainly seem to know how to get the worst out of
Zidane. It was May, with the League title on the line. Valencia had
just pushed Real Madrid into second place by a solitary point, and
with four matches left, there was everything to play for. A win was
absolutely crucial to keep the pressure on Valencia, who were to
play Real Betis the next day.
Real had only recently lost the Copa del Rey final to Zaragoza, and
the Champions League semi-final to Juventus, as Carlos Quieroz's
dreams of a treble had come crashing down. The League was their
only chance to save face, as they headed to the Riazor.
Deportivo took the lead much against the run of play through a
precise Diego Tristan strike, from their first real attack in
thirty minutes. Zidane was growing particularly flustered with some
of his tussles with Djalminha, and picked up an unnecessary yellow
before the break.
He seemed to come out fired up for the second half. Unfortunately,
it was all misdirected into a merciless chop on Djalminha, with no
chance at the ball, barely four minutes into the half.
Real were left to make do with ten men, in one of their most
crucial games of the season, and were sent home with a 2-0
mauling.
Valencia won the next day to get a four point lead, while Real
Madrid collapsed under the defeat, eventually finishing fourth,
after failing to pick up even a single point from the final three
games.
Verdict
There is no doubting that 'Zizou' has been one of the best players
to ever step onto the pitch. World Cup, European Championship,
Champions League, domestic titles in Spain and Italy, and
individual accolades say it all.
But all that said, he has let his temper run away from him a little
too often, with around 20 career red cards, and quite a few very
ugly ones. Two direct red cards in World Cups, not due to rash
tackles, or unintentional elbows, but cynical retaliatory gestures,
tell their own story.
His performances with the ball have helped push those moments of
indiscretion into oblivion ever so often. Which is why this one
could linger for a while!
And football is most defenitely worse for it, no matter whom you
support!
Abhishek Thakur (Goal.com Correspondent)
