BBC says Materazzi to sue papers over Zidane insult
reports
ROME (Reuters) - Italy defender Marco Materazzi is taking legal
action against three newspapers over their reporting of the
incident in last July's World Cup final when he clashed with
Zinedine Zidane, the BBC reported on Thursday.
Zidane responded to verbal provocation by Materazzi by headbutting
him to the ground, earning a red card in his last game before
retiring from football.
Materazzi has decided to seek damages against the Sun, the Daily
Mail and the Daily Star over claims about what he said to the
Frenchman, said the Italian's lawyer Steven Heffer.
"He is taking legal action to clear his name," Heffer was quoted as
saying on the BBC's website (www.bbc.co.uk).
Materazzi received a two-match ban from FIFA over the incident.
Zidane has never revealed exactly what he said to him, only that
the insult related to his mother and sister.
