TransCity

In the days after the World Cup final, news headlines have not been dominated by Italy’s celebrations over it’s World Cup victory over France. It is Zinedine Zidane and his now infamous headbutt dominating the world’s front pages.

Zinedine Zidane from Marseille, whose parents were born in Algeria, already was a role model for many French kids with roots in one of the Maghreb countries. As probably France’s best footballer ever, he has lead France to a World Cup victory in 1998 and even managed to secure the Golden Ball as best player of the FIFA 2006 World Cup in the final days of his career.

But is the football world going to remember Zidane for football excellence or for his clash with Italian defender Marco Materazzi? And did his headbutt have any effect on his role model status?

First reports suggest his violent reaction to alleged insults by Materazzi has even given a boost to his popularity. Many socially deprived kids from the ‘banlieues’ in France’s largest cities seem to believe the French football star gave the right response to harsh insults directed to his mother and sister. (In last nights interview on the French Canal Plus network, Zidane declared insults to his mother and sister has lead to his act.)

A headbutt as a popular act? It’s a complex world…