Materazzi 'not a bad lad'
Reuters
Italy and Inter Milan defender Marco Materazzi has had enough of being the hate figure of Serie A, following two weeks in which he's been publicly called an "animal" and a "delinquent".
Last week, the 32-year-old central defender came in for strong criticism from journalists, television pundits and even politicians after his appalling foul on Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic during Inter's 2-0 defeat to Juventus.
While he says he can handle criticism, Materazzi believes the insults have gone too far.
"When a player like me goes on to the field he is transformed and maybe some people don't like the way I behave on the pitch.
"But when you are insulted in all of the stadiums in Italy, even in those in which you have never set foot before, then that means that something is wrong," said Materazzi, who regularly faces chants of abuse in stadiums across the peninsular.
"In Italy we talk all the time about 'fair play' and English style stadiums and then you get these kind of chants. Why do we punish racial chants but not this kind of abuse?
"People need to remember that a footballer is also a person. If I was walking down the street and I called a passer-by a 'son of a ...' then the reaction might be quite strong," he said.
"Its one thing getting stick in places like Turin, Milan and Rome where there is a big rivalry (with Inter) but when you get called a 'son of a...' all over the country then I've obviously gone wrong somewhere," added the defender.
It is not hard though to work out why fans turn on Materazzi.
The foul on Ibrahimovic, replayed countless times on Italy's midweek football shows, was just the latest incident to put the centre half at the centre of attention.
A wild studs-up challenge on AC Milan's Andriy Shevchenko in a derby game in April 2003 was met with fierce criticism from Inter's rivals and the focus on Materazzi heightened when he lunged into Filippo Inzaghi during a pre-season friendly later that year.
Such was Materazzi's reputation among Milan fans that the club's official television station produced a video clip accompanied by rock music featuring the worst of his challenges on their players.
In February 2004, he was banned for two months after punching Siena's ex-Inter defender Bruno Cirillo in the tunnel at the San Siro. A bruised and bleeding Cirillo appeared on post-match television to denounce his former team mate who was not even playing in the game.
"I know I am not popular outside of Inter and the national side. I am paying for when my behaviour has been over the top and I know that I have my faults," Materazzi said.
"But when I go home I have my conscience in place and I think I can teach my kids how to behave," he added.
With Alessandro Nesta injured for Italy's last World Cup qualifier against Moldova on Wednesday, a formality given the Azzurri have already assured themselves of a place in next year's finals, Materazzi is likely to feature for Marcello Lippi's side and is in line for a place in the squad in Germany.
The defender is hoping that his presence in the national side will help improve his image and says that process has already started.
"On Saturday one of the ball boys asked me for a souvenir and when after the game I gave him my shirt he said 'you're not a bad lad'."
Updated: Mon, Oct 10, 2005 06:24:02 PM AEST
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