Soccer: World Cup

Head-butting former captain to attend FIFA hearing today

12:12 AM CDT on Thursday, July 20, 2006

Associated Press

GENEVA – His reputation already dented, Zinedine Zidane faces possible sanctions for head-butting Marco Materazzi in the World Cup final.

Zidane, who retired after the July 9 final, will appear before a FIFA disciplinary panel today in Zurich.

France's former captain could be fined, receive a symbolic ban and be stripped of his "Golden Ball" award as the best player in the tournament.

Zidane, who had a stellar 18-year career, said he attacked Materazzi because the Italian defender insulted his mother and sister.

Materazzi denied insulting Zidane's mother, and appeared last week before the FIFA committee. The Inter Milan player also faces a possible fine and match ban.

FIFA spokesman Andreas Herren said Zidane had already submitted written testimony. He will attend the hearing with French soccer federation president Jean-Pierre Escalettes and legal adviser Jean Lapeyre, the French association said.

FIFA will announce its verdicts following the close-door hearing today.

Zidane apologized to children who watched the match, but said he didn't regret what he did because he was provoked by repeated harsh insults about his family.

Coach quits after Brazil's debacle: In Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Carlos Alberto Parreira quit as coach of Brazil, three weeks after his team was eliminated by France in the quarterfinals of the World Cup. Parreira wants to rest and spend time with his family after four years at the helm of the five-time World Cup champions, the Brazil Soccer Confederation (CBF) said.

The Brazil confederation did not immediately name a replacement for Parreira. The club will play Norway in a friendly game on Aug. 16 in Oslo.

Briefly: In Chicago, U.S. midfielder Shannon Boxx tore knee ligaments during practice and will miss six to eight months of preparation for the 2007 women's World Cup. Boxx had started 58 of 59 games she's played for the U.S. team.

In Kansas City, Mo., the Kansas City Wizards fired Bob Gansler, the longest-tenured coach in Major League Soccer history, and chose assistant coach Brian Bliss as interim coach.