Horacio Elizondo has no regrets about giving the
footballing legend a red card, an incident which he insists was not the most
important moment in his career.
The referee who gave Zinedine Zidane his marching orders
for headbutting Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup final says the decision
was difficult but not the most important moment in his career.
Horacio Elizondo took charge of the clash between France
and Italy seven years ago, which saw les Bleus' skipper provoked by the Azzurri
defender, to which his violent reaction provoked a red card in extra-time.
France survived with a man down until the penalty
shoot-out, in which Italy conquered the 1998 champions, but the official does
not think that his decision to send off Zidane was the most pivotal in his
career.
"[I am remembered] for the sending off as it was the
World Cup final and because of the importance of the player, who was the
captain of France and the best player in the world," Elizondo, who also
took charge of the opening match of the tournament between Germany and Costa
Rice, told Goal.
"It was a difficult decision to send him off, but
one cannot fail to recognise that the right decision was made.
"Soon there will have been two World Cups since
then, but everyone still asks me about that moment. It was a very significant
event, but not the most important decision I made in my career."
Zidane is currently part of Real Madrid's coaching staff,
having worked behind the scenes for the club in the years following his
retirement from playing football.
Culled from Goal
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