Gianluigi Buffon has given his perspective on Zinedine Zidane’s infamous headbutt during the 2006 World Cup final against Italy.
Buffon, who was the Italy goalkeeper at the time, said that he has ‘never’ discussed the incident with Zidane.
‘Matter of respect,’ Buffon told Football Italia.
Key moments
According to Football Italia, Buffon was asked about the headbutt and his response was: ‘Matter of respect.’
‘It was a moment of respect, not a moment of anger,’ Buffon said.
Buffon added that he has ‘never’ discussed the incident with Zidane, and that it’s not something that they’ve talked about in the past.
Reaction
Buffon’s comments come as a surprise, given the controversy surrounding the headbutt at the time.
The incident sparked a heated debate about the level of respect and sportsmanship in football, with many calling for Zidane to be banned from the game.
However, Buffon’s perspective suggests that the headbutt was simply a matter of respect, and not a deliberate attempt to injure Materazzi.
Up next
The 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign is set to begin in June, with Italy facing a tough group stage against the likes of England and Germany.
References
- Football Italia
- AS
