ZURICH, Switzerland (AP-CP) - FIFA handed Zinedine Zidane a three-game ban Thursday for head-butting Italian defender Marco Materazzi during the World Cup final.

The suspension will not faze Zidane, who has since retired. But Italians were surprised by FIFA's decision to suspend Materazzi two games for ''repeatedly provoking Zidane.''

''It's scandalous to ban a player for having said something,'' former Italian captain Paolo Maldini said at AC Milan's training camp. ''It's the first time that it's happened and it's only because Materazzi is Italian and because they want to justify the gesture of a great champion, who made a mistake.''

Italian soccer federation commissioner Guido Rossi issued a carefully worded statement.

''We respect the definitive verdict by FIFA's disciplinary commission,'' Rossi said. ''But the episode was captured on television and (any opinion) is up to the judgment of people throughout the world.''

if(!sops){if(p.sops){var sops=p.sops;}else{var sops="";}}
if(dUnitBox==true){boxAd=true;}
if(boxAd){if((!dUnitSky)||(!dUnitSuper)||(dUnitBox)){place300x250();}}



 

The Italian federation has yet to decide whether to appeal the decision.

FIFA also fined Zidane 7,500 Swiss francs ($6,840 Cdn) and Materazzi 5,000 francs ($4,560 Cdn) after a disciplinary committee heard the French player's account of what led to the incident.

Zidane has said he attacked Materazzi because he insulted his mother and sister, while Materazzi denied insulting Zidane's mother.

''Both players stressed that Materazzi's comments had been defamatory but not of a racist nature,'' FIFA said in a statement.

The players apologized for ''their inappropriate behaviour and expressed their regret at the incident,'' FIFA said.

Materazzi will miss Italy's opening two Euro 2008 qualifiers against Lithuania on Sept. 2 and France on Sept. 6.

The president of France's soccer federation said he was satisfied with the verdict.

''It was intelligent, measured and reasonable. It shows knowledge of the world of football,'' Jean-Pierre Escalettes told a news conference in Paris.

''It's a verdict that satisfies me,'' he said. ''The provoker of the incident has been punished.''

He also said Zidane's ''way of paying this penalty is perhaps the best that we could imagine.''

Zidane, who retired after his team's loss in the July 9 final in Berlin, was sent off for ramming Materazzi in the chest with his head.

He agreed to complete three days of community service with children as part of FIFA's humanitarian projects.

''Community service is not something foreseen in the regulations,'' FIFA spokesman Andreas Herren said. ''It is a gesture, given the special circumstances involved.''   

FIFA president Sepp Blatter had suggested Zidane, widely considered one of the greatest players of his generation, could be stripped of his Golden Ball award as the World Cup's best player. The issue was not addressed by the disciplinary panel, FIFA said.

In a French television appearance last week, Zidane apologized to children who watched the match, but said he didn't regret his actions because he was provoked by repeated harsh insults about his family.

Playing in extra time in his farewell game, Zidane and Materazzi exchanged words as the two walked up field. Zidane appeared to be distancing himself from the Italian, but then turned, lowered his head, and drove it into Materazzi's chest - knocking him to the ground.

Italy went on to win its fourth World Cup, 5-3, on penalties after a 1-1 extra-time draw.

if(!sops){if(p.sops){var sops=p.sops;}else{var sops="";}}
if(dUnitSky==true){skyAd=true;}
if(skyAd){if((!dUnitSuper)||(!dUnitBox)||(dUnitSky)||(!ad3)){place120x600();}}



if(!sops){if(p.sops){var sops=p.sops;}else{var sops="";}}
if(dUnitSuper==true){superAd=true;}
if(superAd){if((!dUnitSky)||(!dUnitBox)||(dUnitSuper)||(!ad3)){place160x600();}}