World Cup

Will Italy be stripped of the World Cup?  

New FIFA anti-racism rulings that took effect in March suggest Italy’s victory on Sunday could be reversed by disqualification 

By Kevin Potvin  

What Materazzi said to Zidane to cause the French captain to head-butt Materazzi in reply in the World Cup final may have repercussions that go well beyond Materazzi.

On March 16 of this year, FIFA, the world football governing body, issued a declaration revising article 55 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. Paragraph 4 now reads: “If any player, association or club official or spectator perpetrates any kind of discriminatory or contemptuous act as described by paragraphs 1 and/or 2 of this article, three points will automatically be deducted from the team concerned, if identifiable, after the first offence. In the case of a second offence, six points will automatically be deducted, and for a further offence, the team will be relegated.”

And, most ominously for the events of July 9, the code says, “In the case of matches without points, the team concerned, if identifiable, will be disqualified.” The World Cup final game is a match without points.

Paragraph 1 of the revised code describes acts of racism as when anyone “disparages, discriminates against or denigrates someone in a defamatory manner on account of race, colour, language, religion or ethnic origin, or perpetrates any other discriminatory and/or contemptuous act.”

The code goes on to stipulate that “The confederations and associations are obliged to incorporate the provisions of this article in their disciplinary code and statutes and to enforce the sanctions stipulated.” Presumably, FIFA itself is under the same obligation. In a press conference after the announcement, FIFA president Joseph S. Blatter said the new rules would apply to this years World Cup tournament. The theme of this years World Cup was anti-racism.

If Materazzi issued a racist epithet to Zidane, FIFA, by its own rulings issued earlier this year, may have no choice but to disqualify Italy from the World Cup final game. In such an event, Italy would presumably be stripped of the World Cup.

Materazzi has admitted to insulting Zidane, but has claimed he did not call him a terrorist, as some lip-readers of the game’s video have claimed. Zidane, a Muslim, was born in Marsaille, France, to Algerian parents. Zidane’s agent Alain Migliaccio told BBC that Zidane “told me Materazzi said something very serious to him but he wouldn't tell me what.” His agent has said Zidane will speak about the incident in the next few days. FIFA has announced it is investigating Zidane’s head-butt and Materazzi’s comments that led to it.

The Times newspaper of London employed an expert lip-reader who has testified in court in the past to examine high-definition video of the incident from several angles. Jessica Rees is reported to have concluded that Materazzi said, in Italian, "Figlio d'una putana terrorista," which translates as "Son of a terrorist whore." Materazzi has denied this, saying "I'm ignorant. I don't even know what the word means."