Zidane l'interview sur Canal+ en exclusif (18min)

I started to translate at the part where they started to talk about the red card incident. I wrote this very fast so don't expect a superb transcript -Zaki

Michel Denisot: Before the game (the final), was there any grudges whatsoever between your teammates and anybody from the Italian squad?

Zinedine Zidane: None whatsoever.

Michel Denisot: What can you tell us about these insults?

Zinedine Zidane: They (insults) are something that happens in Football for a long time, in fact pretty much always. There's always tensions, especially during a world cup final, but as any other day, I had no huge problems with any of the italian players before the game, including Materazzi

Michel Denisot: can you tell us what he said exactly? Because honestly everybody is dying to know

Zinedine Zidane: well you see...it would be very sickening to say the following, it's about things that you know..very personal...voila...the mother, the sister, the wife, and you know, these are very harsh words you see. You hear these once, then twice, then a third time? Before everything else, I am a man. There are words that are sometimes more...I would have preferred getting a punch in the face, than to hear such words...and I reacted...

...because it is true that it was watched by 2-3 Billion TV watchers, including millions of children, frankly, near them, I apologize and I say it high and loud...and also to the educators (as in coaches) who are there to educate these kids what to do and what not to do, of course near them I apologize...

Michel Denisot: you regret this because of them, but do you regret the act itself?

Zinedine Zidane: regretting the act itself would mean that what he (Materazzi) said, that he had the right to say that. I can't. I can't say that. I excuse myself to all the children, and all the educators, and everybody who saw my gesture, because it was intolerable...but as I just said, regretting this means he had the right to say what he did, and no, he had no right to say what he did. Definitely not.

Michel Denisot: so in other words, if you had to do it all over again, you would?

Zinedine Zidane: I said enough on what I think.

Michel Denisot: okay. Then, you're next to the referee. He does not exclude you because he did not see the foul that you did...all of this will be talked about in the FIFA inquiry about the event...if you have to talk, I assume you will?

Zinedine Zidane: yes in any case, yes of course. But if there is no provokation, there's no reaction. And that, I want to say it, and I want to defend it...and because it's always "satisfied" to sanction the reaction...if I react, that means that something happened. Do you really believe in a world cup final like this, 10 minutes away from retirement, I would do a thing like this without provocation? Do you really think that for 1 minute?

Michel Denisot: no, of course not

Zinedine Zidane: never

Michael Denisot: cold-blooded?

Zinedine Zidane: yes because there was a provocation, and that is very obscene, that's all. Now I tell you, my gesture, it is unforgivable, that's not what I'm here to tell you. I only say that you have to sanction the real culpable. And the real culpable is the one who does the provocation. Voila.

Michel Denisot: and so, if there's an inquiry, we'll know maybe the exact...well it's going to be his words against your words

Zinedine Zidane: it's not maybe ....in any case...it's just like I told you...

Michel Denisot: and once the head-butt, once the red card is given, you're calm with the referee. What do you explain him at this particular moment?

Zinedine Zidane: I just explain him that there were provocations...I did not do this (head-butt) just like that. I asked him if someone told him something, because nobody saw it, you also have to look at what the other player has done. You know now, I told you everything. And the most important thing once again is that the gesture is not forgiveable and I apologize like I said to all the kids who saw that because I have kids and I know how that is...I will always tell them not to get beaten on the feet (french expression). I also want to say thanks to football and all my teammates and to everybody who was behind me

Michel Denisot: The french people also thank you too, you saw the people outside, you saw the polls...more than 60% of the french understand what you did, without the need of an explication of the things you just told us today...even at half-word we understood what took place...and also that is the last picture of your career, there are others that are very beautiful, the welcome at Paris, I imagine was very good to see for you?

Zinedine Zidane: Yes that's why I want to tell you I want to tell them Merci. To tell them Merci and that it was heartwarming that when you're leaving, everybody is there behind you...it's nice to see.

The interview continues for a few more minutes. I'm gonna stop translating here because my hands are tired, I may continue later. -Zaki Q

ps. Look for Materazzi on Google Video. I had no idea that guy played so dirty with his clubteam...