Here is the link to the article I am discussing: http://www.counterpunch.org/2006/07/11/why-i-wear-my-zidane-jersey/

Starting on page 122, Rankine begins discussing the 2006 World Cup where a racist event occurred. I forget what encouraged me to google something in class but this article came up and I read it to gain a better understanding of this event- as I am not familiar with the world of soccer.

I do not understand why someone would say: “Big Algerian Shit dirty terrorist nigger” (perhaps a flarf poem should be created using that phrase!)  An Italian soccer player named Marco Materazzi on the field called Zinedine Zidane, the French team captain, this racial slur. Zinedine Zidane reacted violently.  I can’t say I blame him… However there are issues with this situation. The soccer players were not wearing microphones so there is no verbal account, just the account of the two players and a broadcaster who “lip read” the screen that was playing back footage of the altercation.

I think it is safe to say that something was said that invoked a violent response. Most people do not attack others unprovoked. “Zissou is the son of Algerian immigrants who has sparred verbally with Europe’s far-right political machine for more than a decade. He is an outspoken anti-racist on a team that has defined itself by its multiculturalism and stubborn insistence to stand up against bigotry both inside and outside the sport.”  Zissou was discharged from soccer because he stood up for something right, yet Materazzi continues to play soccer, even though he was the one who provoked Zissou with nasty inhumane comments. This says more about the soccer organization and the team that Materazzi plays for than it does Zissou. It says that racism can and will be annoyed and ultimately supported on and off the field.

I wrote this and then discovered this link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/5315618.stm

Materazzi said: “I was tugging his shirt, Zissou said to me ‘if you want my shirt so much I’ll give it to you afterwards,’ Materazzi answered that I’d prefer his sister.”

So… was there a racist comment made or not??

I personally like and approve of the authors last paragraph: “We don’t know with iron certainty what Materazzi said, but if it turns out to be more of the anti-Black, anti-Muslim, garbage that has infected soccer like a virus, the Italian team should forfeit the cup. They should voluntarily give the greatest trophy of them all back to FIFA as a statement that some things in this world are more important than sports. Racism will be the death of soccer if things don,t change. Italy can set the sport back on course, with one simple, stunning gesture. Give the damn thing back. ”

I’m not going to even bother to look up whether or not they gave “the damn thing back”. I know they didn’t. Even if they did, they cannot get back their dignity which was lost when racial slurs were expressed over a damn soccer game.

“Some things in this world are more important than sports” – Isn’t that the truth??

Regardless, I love the fact that there is a statue of this attack .