ZIDANE
PARIS, (Reuters):
A FRENCH lawyer plans to ask a court to intervene in the controversy over Zinedine Zidane's sending-off in the World Cup final.
Doubts over whether a match official relied on video evidence of Zidane's head butt to Italian defender Marco Materazzi meant the final should be replayed, lawyer Mehana Mouhou said.
"I am going to ask the judge to question all individuals concerned and to reconstruct the end of the refereeing," Mouhou, who is based in the northern town of Rennes, told Reuters yesterday.
"If it is proved that the fourth referee used video evidence, FIFA can have the final replayed," he said.
Mouhou said he was acting on behalf of a number of clubs and associations whose names he would reveal once the application had been filed with the Tribunal de Grande Instance in Paris, one of France's main civil courts.
French captain Zidane was sent off in extra time in Sunday's final in Berlin after he head-butted Materazzi, apparently in reaction to comments by the defender. Italy went on to take the World Cup after winning the match on penalties.
The incident went unseen by the referee and his two linesmen. The referee was informed about the headbutt by the fourth match official who said he had witnessed the action.
French team officials have challenged this version of events, saying the official knew what happened because he saw a video replay.
FIFA rules prevent referees from using video evidence during the course of a match.
"The divergence of opinion means that the justice system should decide," Mouhou said.
"If it is proved that video was used, I will ask for the match to be nullified."
DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS
Meanwhile, FIFA has begun disciplinary proceedings against Materazzi over the incident. FIFA said the proceedings opened yesterday follow Zidane's remarks on French television on Wednesday night in which he said he was repeatedly insulted by Materazzi.
Zidane apologised to a world audience for his reaction, his final act as a professional footballer, but said he did not regret it because to do so would imply he was wrong to have responded to Materazzi.
"As part of the process, Zinedine Zidane will be given the right to be heard by means of a written statement, which must be submitted by 18 July," FIFA said.
"Materazzi will subsequently be sent a copy of the statement so that he can respond to it," they said in a statement.
"Both players have been summoned to attend a face-to-face hearing before the disciplinary committee at FIFA headquarters in Zurich on Thursday, 20 July."
