Why France forgave Zidane's World Cup red card - unlike Beckham in England

January 19, 2026 • 0 • min read

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Why France forgave Zidane's World Cup red card - unlike Beckham in England

Emmanuel Petit has opened up on why Zinedine Zidane was forgiven in France after his World Cup red cards, and why the reaction was starkly different to the treatment David Beckham received in England following his infamous dismissal at the 1998 tournament.

Petit, an Arsenal legend and World Cup winner, played alongside Zidane during France's golden era and helped the nation lift football's biggest prize in 1998, with both men scoring in the final as Les Bleus beat Brazil to win the World Cup for the first time.

But speaking on talkSPORT's How To Win The World Cup podcast, Petit suggested Zidane's standing in France meant the public response to his mistakes was far more forgiving than what Beckham endured from fans and tabloids back home.

Zidane's 2006 headbutt: A final that ended in infamy

Zidane's most notorious World Cup moment came in 2006, when he captained France against Italy in the final - a match that was also his last before retirement.

He opened the scoring early with a delicate Panenka penalty, before Marco Materazzi levelled the match.

Yet both goals were quickly overshadowed in extra-time, when Zidane headbutted Materazzi in the chest after an exchange of words.

Referee Horacio Elizondo showed Zidane a red card, and France went on to lose on penalties without their talisman available to take a spot-kick.

Petit on Zidane's temper: "It's in his blood"

Petit insisted Zidane's flashpoints were not unusual, claiming the legendary playmaker had always had a fierce edge when provoked.

Zizou received many red cards during his career. Because of his temper. That's in his blood, you know.

This is how he is. He is very quiet, very shy. In the meantime, if you provoke him many times, he will fight.

Petit also reminded that Zidane's 2006 sending off was not even his first at a World Cup.

In France's 4-0 group-stage win over Saudi Arabia at the 1998 World Cup, Zidane became the first Frenchman to be sent off at the tournament after he was penalised for stamping on Fuad Anwar.

Remember, in 1998, he received a red card as well against Saudi Arabia. Someone tried to kick him, and he jumped on him.

And he got sent off. But I think he received more than 10 red cards during his career, which is huge.

Why France forgave Zidane - but England turned on Beckham

The discussion then turned to Beckham, who was also sent off at the 1998 World Cup but faced years of criticism for his actions.

talkSPORT host Matt Forde asked Petit what the reaction was like in France compared to England's response to Beckham.

And Petit's answer was blunt:

We forgave him.

When asked whether that forgiveness was immediate, Petit claimed it was - adding that even the then French president Jacques Chirac publicly supported Zidane.

Yeah, even the French president, Chirac, said it on TV, "We forgive you because we love you."

Petit was then asked whether Zidane faced the kind of media and tabloid backlash that Beckham endured in England.

No... I know what you've done here in England with the likes of David Beckham.

He explained France's different attitude came down to Zidane's legendary status and what he represented to the nation.

No [we didn't do the same to Zidane], because everything he's done for France is amazing. And he's a legend. People loved him.

For the people, the guy he is on the pitch, but as well outside the pitch.

Beckham's red card: A moment that defined a tournament

Beckham's red card came in England's last-16 clash with Argentina, with the match locked at 2-2.

After Diego Simeone went through the back of him, Beckham retaliated by kicking out whilst on the ground - an act spotted instantly by referee Kim Milton Nielsen, who produced a straight red.

England went on to lose on penalties, and Beckham became the lightning rod for national frustration.

Petit's wider point: "We forget we are human beings"

Beyond the football, Petit suggested modern culture is too quick to condemn people, rather than accept mistakes as part of being human.

So, you know, we can do mistakes sometimes, but we can forgive as well. I think we are living in a society that we don't do that anymore.

We judge people all the time. We kill them all the time. And we forget that we are human beings.