I tried responding to the previous comment I made but the comment somehow got deleted and now I can’t seem to find the previous posting with the comment. My question regarding Zidane’s statement was not to lump him in the same racist category as Metarazzi nor was it to say since Zidane was racist everyone is racist and no one should say anything. My point was that Zidane was being ambiguous about what Metarazzi said, stating he said “some serious and personal things about my mother and sister.” Given my experience hanging with and playing soccer with non-black French (including Arab-French) guys, I’ve heard my share of racist comments at gatherings and games. This is why I was a bit angry at what I consider a tepid accusation and considered it a possibility that Zidane’s statement might be as a result of comments he himself could have made (Again in a sport were insults are used as part of psychological intimidation, subtle racist comments can be seen as such)

Back to my issue, why didn’t he say “Metarazzi made blatantly racist remarks; he called my mother a terrorist “whore” and made similar remarks about my sister. I mean think about it, why didn’t Metarazzi repeat what he actually said on the field? Why is he going back and forth? I mean even though some might say I reacted harshly, I expect that FIFA should take action on the matter given the heavy stance against racism in the sport we love so much.”

And now we have the results in by FIFA, Metarazzi receives a slap on the wrist compared to Zidane’s fines. I despise the fact that the burden of proof lies on the person who suffers racist attack, but a stronger accusationw would have gone a long way to push FIFA to act on their word.

Zidane l’atappe

The Street Speaks

It’s interesting what you say about Zidane doing this consciously. Someone else said that he watched the incident over and over and that the chest butt was not a reflex action but he actually hesitated as if he was thinking. Maybe he thought this is my last chance, my last game and I am sick of this shit which I have had to put up with for xx years so I am going to do it today and to hell with the consequences. Does that make it better or worse - difficult to say.

Players need to start walking of the pitch if FIFA and their respective clubs dont start acting. It will be interesting to see how people like Eto’o and his team mates react to racism in the coming season. If Ashley Cole ends up in Spain he will face the same thing.

Blatter and his boys has this beautiful pre-World cup song and dance that I bought wholesale on what they would do to fight racism. Well, I will not be “bitten” again.

The more I consider it though, the more I like what Zizou did. I saw some interviews he gave that were screened on the CBC here that give me the distinct impression that he very consciously chose to plant that head butt and make a statement.

At some point, you simply have to do something.

- Steve