Materazzi Wins Libel Action Against Daily Star Over Zidane Head-Butt

Inter defender Marco Materazzi has won a libel action against the Daily Star after the newspaper published a series of false articles relating to Zinedine Zidane’s sending off during the 2006 World Cup final.

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Zidane was infamously red-carded during Italy’s victory over France in Berlin after he head-butted Materazzi in the chest in extra time.

The next day the Daily Star, printed a series of defamatory articles in which they said that Zidane reacted after Materazzi called the Frenchman’s mum a “terrorist whore”.

It was later revealed by 'The Matrix' that Zidane’s sister was the subject of the insult and that no racism or the word "terrorist" was ever used, however the newspaper failed to correct their error or apologise.

This left them open to libel, and Materazzi’s lawyers issued a High Court action for damages in July 2007, claiming “enormous damage to the footballer’s reputation”.

The 34-year-old’s lawyer, Steven Heffer, has revealed that the Daily Star have agreed to publicly apologise and will now have to pay the Matrix damages plus foot the bill for legal costs.

“The Daily Star now accepts that these allegations are wholly untrue and there is no question of Marco having said anything of a racist nature to Zidane whatsoever,” said Heffer.

“The Daily Star agreed to apologise publicly to Marco Materazzi, both in the newspaper and by way of statement in court. The Daily Star will also be paying substantial damages and his legal costs.”

source: http://zinedine-zidane-news.newslib.com/story/1409-3238158/