Zidane headbutt

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The ' Zidane Headbutt '

In the 110th minute of the final match of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, on 9 July 2006, French footballer Zinedine Zidane notoriously headbutted Italian Marco Materazzi in the chest. The incident spawned an internet and pop-culture meme referred to as the Zidane headbutt.

1 Incident and consequences
2 Zidane headbutt internet meme
3 Pop culture references
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Incident and consequences

Following the incident itself, Zidane was shown a red card by the referee, meaning he had to leave the pitch. As Zidane had previously announced that he would retire from professional football after the 2006 World Cup, the headbutt became the last ever play of his illustrious career. In explanations following the game, it was suggested that Zidane sarcastically offered Materazzi his shirt, after Materazzi had pulled it. However, the French captain said that Materazzi had insulted him, targeting his sister and mother. Materazzi confirmed most of Zidane's claims, but denied the insult to Zidane's mother. Materazzi claimed that after Zidane offered his shirt he replied that he (Materazzi) "would prefer his sister."^[1] Following an official FIFA investigation, both Materazzi and Zidane were fined and suspended.^[2]

[edit] Zidane headbutt internet meme

In the days following the headbutt, the video of the action quickly became an internet meme, with several parody videos cropping up on the internet, and especially animated GIFs of the action modified to be humorous. Several of the GIFs are modified such that instead of Zidane, a popular video game character is shown knocking down Materazzi, such as Ryu (Street Fighter), Raiden (Mortal Kombat), Kyo Kusanagi (King of Fighters), Sol Badguy (Guilty Gear), Kirby (Kirby), Sonic the Hedgehog (Sonic the Hedgehog) or Mario (Mario Bros.). On several video sites, a clip circulated depicting Sam Fisher (Splinter Cell) with a Zidane-style shaved head as he headbutts various "terrorists" who all look like Italian soccer players (in the background plays the song mentioned below). Others show real life characters, such as Materazzi being knocked over a by a dancing MC Hammer, getting knocked out of a window, Zidane headbutting Fidel Castro, or Zidane charging at Daniel Larusso (Ralph Macchio) in The Karate Kid. Others modify the situation, such as Zidane headbutting Materazzi to knock him out of the way of a cat sniper's bullet, Matterazzi getting hit by Osaka's shoe in Azumanga Daioh, or Zidane headbutting the Death Star. As Zidane shares the name of Final Fantasy IX's main character, several pictures were made depicting the headbutt as an Active Time Battle.

The videos quickly gained huge popularity due to initial postings on Internet forums (in particular, Something Awful Forums,^[3] MPGH, 4chan and YTMND), and subsequent circulation on blogs and through e-mail, and being uploaded to video hosting services (especially YouTube).

The mainstream media also mentioned the parody videos. A Wall Street Journal article on July 15, 2006 wrote about the phenomenon.^[4]

[edit] Pop culture references

In addition to the videos, a song entitled "Coup de Boule" ("headbutt" in French) began circulating around the Internet in the days after the match. The song was written and recorded on July 10 by Sebastien and Emmanuel Lipszyc, who run a television jingles production company called La Plage, and Franck Lascombes. Warner Music France licensed "Coupe de Boule" and released the single on July 20;^[5] the song topped the French charts on August 2.^[6]

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno presented a skit on the next beauty pagaent. The skit shows the French contestant heading on stage and the Italian contestant follows her immediately. After that, the French contestant headbutts her and cleans herself up in a deadpan expression.

The incident was referenced in a cutaway in the Family Guy episode Saving Private Brian. In it, Zidane delivers a birthday telegram to an eldery lady, headbutts her, and mutters "Bon anniversaire" (Happy Birthday in French). He then proceeds to drop the cake onto her and walk away.

On episode 14-01 of Royal Canadian Air Farce there is a sketch where Jack Layton and Tony Clement engage in a conversation, Clement insults Layton's sister (according to the narrator's lip reading), Layton headbutts Clement in the chest. Layton is then issued a red card by the Speaker of the House.