Italy and Inter Milan defender Marco Materazzi has received a full apology from The Daily Star, after the newspaper published a series of false articles relating to Zinedine Zidane’s sending off at the 2006 World Cup final.
Zidane was infamously sent off after head-butting Materazzi in the chest during extra-time, before Italy clinched the trophy on penalties.
The following day, the Daily Star printed a series of articles ‘explaining’ why Zidane reacted. One read out that Materazzi called the Frenchman’s mother a ‘terrorist whore’.
It was later revealed by Materazzi that Zidane’s sister was the subject of Zizou’s provocation, and insisted that there was no use of the word ‘terrorist’ or any racist intention involved.
However, the Daily Star haven’t corrected their error or issued an apology to the Italian defender.
Leaving the newspaper to libel, Materazzi’s lawyers issued a High Court action for damages, which he won last month.
‘The Matrix’ (as he is known in Italy) will now attend London’s High Court on Monday to hear a full apology read out by the newspaper’s representatives, in addition to themselves printing out another apology in the Daily Star.
