Zidane, tearful adieu!

Furthermore, there is no irrefutable evidence of what was exchanged between Materazzi and Zidane.

You also go on about the poor officiating by Horacio Elizondo and try and link that to Zidane's headbutt. Yes, the Italians were relentless in marking Zidane. But they were certainly not brutal to the great Zizou as you claim. If anything, Horacio was very generous in awarding France a penalty for a non-existent foul. But to defend Zidane's actions by blaming the referee just smacks of desperation.

To conclude, your suggestion that FIFA force players to wear listening devices is not only ridiculous but hardly feasible. Why not just tape players' mouths before they enter the pitch? It would be cheaper, and it would have the desired effect -- football would be played with the feet and the head, and not with the mouth.

Farshed Mahmud, New York City

I was deeply shocked and dismayed at what turned out to be a shattering end of an illustrious and glittering career of the finest footballer I have ever seen in my life, Zinedine Zidane. Zizou certainly deserved being sent off in the final match of the World Cup in Berlin for the horrendous offence he committed but it was truly a pathetic scene for all the football fans around the world to see such a legendary footballer's career coming to an abrupt end. To add to this sorry tale, Zidane was not even allowed to join the post match presentation ceremony.

Perhaps Materazzi, whom Zidane knocked down by a head butt, said something, which sparked the sudden display of lunacy (as I would term it) by Zidane. Otherwise, it was quite an unexpected behaviour from someone like Zidane who is a friendly gentleman as far as I know. I think FIFA should carry out further scrutiny over the matter to elicit if the Italian defender was involved in any sort of offensive talk and should take certain disciplinary measures if it was so.

Zidane is leaving us indelible memories of a shining career spanning twelve years. During this long period of time, he has kept the fans mesmerized with his astute football tactics and deft skills with which he manoeuvres the ball magically evading the defenders. Hopefully, someone might carry on the good work Zidane is leaving (though might not be with that same dazzling neatness like Zidane) but the fact that his career ended in that shocking manner will leave an agonising scar in Zidane's memory, which will be pitied by millions of football fans across the world.

Md. Sabbir Saadat, European Standard School, Dhaka

Zidane, the legendary footballer of this millennium, favourite of all the football lovers of the world irrespective of all countries, shocked us all on 10 July 2006. In spite of being a supporter of Italy, I was expecting & waiting to see the grand farewell celebrations of Zidane. But he broke the hearts of football lovers hitting one of the opponents by his head.

The complete gentle footballer did the wrong at the very last moment of his career. He might have complained to the referee. Why did he do so?

Mrinal Sarkar, Lecturer in English, College of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka

Marco Materazzi thought that the best way to stop Zinedine Zidane in the World Cup final was to abuse and insult him in a racist way. He abused Zidane as "Rubbish Algerian Terrorist". Zidane hit Materazzi in the chest and got the red card. France went on to lose on penalty kicks. Even with the red card, Zidane still won the Golden Ball as the World Cup's best player.

France cried! France was speechless! " Italians did everything they could to provoke Zidane," French defender William Gallas said.

FIFA, which reviews all red cards at the World Cup, would not comment on the specifics. "This is a disciplinary matter now. I can't give any statements," FIFA spokesman Markus Siegler said. But people are eager to know what really happened.

Mir Monaz Haque, On e-mail