Italy face the shocking possibility of failing to reach the World Cup for a third consecutive time.
Materazzi guided Chennaiyin to the title in the second season as they dramatically came from behind to beat hosts FC Goa 3-2 in the final.
Former Italy defender Marco Materazzi has joined Chennai in the new Indian Super League (ISL) following in the footsteps of former national team mate Alessandro Del Piero.
Set to start his stint as manager-cum-player of Chennaiyin FC, Italian World Cup winner Marco Materazzi promised to do his best to raise the profile of the game in the country through the Indian Super League which kicks off next month.
Chennaiyin FC coach Marco Materazzi expressed confidence of his team winning the Indian Super League title for the second straight year, saying that his players were raring to go after their strenuous training in the country and pre-season stint in Italy.
Zinedine Zidane's infamous head-butt on Italian Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup final has been immortalised in a statue now on display in Paris.
Chennaiyin FC's optimistic coach Marco Materazzi stressed on the need to click as a unit, implying that the departure of the mercurial Stiven Mendoza and Elano Blumer would not affect the defending champions in Indian Super League 3.
Marco Materazzi shook Zinedine Zidane's hand last month for the first time since the Frenchman's infamous headbutt on him in the 2006 World Cup final, the Italian said on Thursday.
Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto'o has lost his appeal against a three-match Serie A ban for headbutting but a 30,000 euro ($39,570) fine has been dropped, the Italian soccer federation said in the statement on Thursday.
Inter Milan's Marco Materazzi was let off with a warning for wearing a mask of Italian Premier and AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi after Sunday's city derby, the Italian Soccer League said on Tuesday.
Former French midfielder Zinedine Zidane is glad he was sent-off for his head-butt in the 2006 World Cup final because he has not had to live with regret over escaping punishment.
France's Euro 2008 squad are missing Zinedine Zidane, playmaker Franck Ribery and goalkeeper Gregory Coupet said on Sunday. Coupet said Zidane's retirement was one of the reasons why France, thrashed 4-1 by Netherlands on Friday after drawing 0-0 with Romania on Monday, were toiling at these finals.
Marco Materazzi is taking legal action against three British newspapers over their reporting of the incident in last July's World Cup final when he clashed with Zinedine Zidane.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter hinted that the head-butt on Italy's Marco Materazzi in the World Cup final might cost the France captain the best player's award.
Marco Materazzi's agent said Zidane's head-butt was prompted by the Italian defender's loose comment about the French captain's wife.
FIFA will open a disciplinary investigation into the circumstances surrounding Zinedine Zidane's head-butt on Italy's Marco Materazzi.
A superb header by Ronaldinho spurred AC Milan to a 1-0 over Inter Milan Sunday and hand the Serie A champions their first defeat under new coach Jose Mourinho.
The football ace came first in a ranking of France's Top 50 personalities, beating ex-tennis champion Yannick Noah, who came in second place.
Marco Materazzi is writing a book of jokes about the incident with Zinedine Zidane.
Italy defender Marco Materazzi has finally revealed the exact words he used to provoke Zinedine Zidane into headbutting him in last year's World Cup final.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter said that plans were afoot for the two players to be reunited.
'I brought up his sister and that wasn't a nice thing, that is true,' said the Italian defender.
Inter Milan again wasted the chance to retain their Serie A title when they were held 2-2 at home by Siena on Sunday with Marco Materazzi having a penalty saved.
'Zinedine Zidane will be given the right to be heard by means of a written statement,' FIFA said.
Liverpool eased into the Champions League quarter-finals after a superb strike by Fernando Torres gave last season's runners-up a 1-0 win at Inter Milan and a 3-0 aggregate victory. They join the other three English entrants, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea, with AS Roma the only Italian side through.
Luis Figo is ready to return for leaders Inter Milan at Catania on Sunday after missing three months with a broken leg.
Zinedine Zidane has said he would like to return to the world of football, not sure in which role.
Goals by Marco Materazzi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic gave Serie A leaders Inter Milan a 2-0 victory over Messina on Sunday as they set a club record with their ninth straight league win.
Ronaldinho is bidding to lift the trophy for the third year in a row.
FIFA discriminated against Italy when it decided to punish defender Marco Materazzi, Italy's sports minister said.
Former France captain Zinedine Zidane will appear before FIFA's disciplinary committee in Zurich on Thursday to give his account of the incident in which he head-butted an opponent in the World Cup final.
Zinedine Zidane said he attacked Marco Materazzi during the World Cup final to defend the honour of his mother and sister.
Tell us what provokes you to anger and how you deal with it.
The France captain's head-butt on Italy defender Marco Materazzi is the subject of a song that aims to be a holiday hit.
Coach Marcello Lippi hailed 10-man Italy's determination to beat Australia 1-0 on and said their winning penalty was rightly given.
Inter Milan beat Siena 2-1 to clinch their second successive Serie A title with five games to spare.
He slid the ball into his own net in the 42nd minute just two minutes after the Azzurri had taken the lead.
Zinedine Zidane is the country's most popular figure for 48 percent of French people.
Zidane was given a three-match ban and a 7,500 Swiss franc fine for head-butting Marco Materazzi in this month's World Cup final in Berlin.
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