Give The Cup To Zidane

I'm taking a look at the obvious juxtapositioning that took place yesterday at the world cup finals.

We saw:
Two football players.
One incident.
One reaction.
One result.
Juxtaposed within the context of football playing a condemning in the form of a red card.

But in a larger context. Acknowledging the need to make a stand. To say 'no' this cannot continue. The winning part was the opposite. And the outcome should have been different.


Zinedine "Zizou" Zidane.
The greatest football player in the world (1998, 2000, 2003 and probably now 2006). Called by experts one of the best players of the last decenium. Has dedicated much of his time and money engaged in social projects against poverty and rasism.

...vs.

Marco Materazzi
Italy's (and probably the worlds) most hated football player.
Check out this video if you dont believe me.

....
We all saw what happend. Theres no question in my and many others mind (e.g., this italian blog) that Zidane did the right thing. He had already announced his withdrawel from professional football. This was a perfect opportunity to do what all profesional football players had always wanted to do, but not been able to do during this world cup:

Kick this clowns ass once and for all.

Yes, Italy got their cup. But it was relinquished by Zidane and hence rendered worthless the same moment that Zidane probably lost interest in it. Letting scumbags like Materazzi play is a statement in itself that the game of football has lost much of its purpose. Zidane must have felt very dissapointed at the whole spectacle. Letting a clown like this make a mockery of all he stood for and the game he loved so much.