2006 World Cup Final referee reveals truth behind Zinedine Zidane's infamous red card

July 18, 2026 • 0 • min read

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2006 World Cup Final referee reveals truth behind Zinedine Zidane's infamous red card

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Referee Horacio Elizondo admitted he never personally saw Zinedine Zidane's headbutt.
Fourth official Luis Medina Cantalejo informed Elizondo the incident deserved a red card.
Zidane accepted the dismissal but insisted Marco Materazzi had provoked him beforehand.

Few moments in football history are as unforgettable as Zinedine Zidane's headbutt on Marco Materazzi during the 2006 FIFA World Cup Final.

With France and Italy locked at 1-1 deep into extra time, the France captain lost his composure and struck Materazzi with a headbutt to the chest in the 110th minute.

The incident brought an abrupt and dramatic end to one of the greatest careers the game has ever seen.

Now, almost 20 years later, referee Horacio Elizondo has shared new details about how one of football's most famous red cards was actually awarded.

A brilliant final before one moment changed everything

France made the perfect start in Berlin when Zidane confidently converted a seventh-minute penalty with his trademark chipped finish.

Italy responded just 12 minutes later as Materazzi powered home a header from Andrea Pirlo's corner to level the score.

Neither side could find a winner in normal time, sending the final into extra time before one extraordinary incident completely overshadowed the match.

After an off-the-ball exchange, Zidane suddenly headbutted Materazzi, leaving the Italian defender on the ground.

The dismissal forced France to play the closing stages with 10 men before Italy eventually triumphed 5-3 in the penalty shootout.

David Trezeguet struck the crossbar with France's only missed penalty, whilst Fabio Grosso calmly converted the decisive kick to secure Italy's fourth World Cup title.

Referee admits he never saw Zidane's headbutt

Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Elizondo revealed that he never actually witnessed the incident himself.

Instead, his attention was elsewhere as play continued further up the pitch.

I saw Materazzi didn't get up, so I stopped play and started running towards him.

The Argentine immediately consulted both assistant referees over his communication system.

Neither had seen what happened.

I asked the first assistant, "What happened?" He said, "I didn't see anything." The second assistant said exactly the same.

The crucial information instead came from fourth official Luis Medina Cantalejo, who clearly witnessed the clash and informed Elizondo that Zidane had deliberately headbutted Materazzi.

Without VAR available in 2006, Elizondo relied entirely on his officiating team.

Why Elizondo 'pretended' to consult his assistant

One of the most remarkable revelations concerns what happened immediately before the red card.

Elizondo admitted he deliberately acted as though he was discussing the incident with an assistant referee, even though neither assistant had seen it.

His aim was to reassure players, supporters and television audiences that the officials had reached the decision collectively.

I started talking to the assistant, pretending that he knew something. I wanted people to understand that we were making a decision.

After a brief exchange, he turned towards Zidane and produced the red card that instantly became one of the most iconic images in World Cup history.

Zidane accepted the red card

Elizondo expected the France captain to protest.

Instead, Zidane calmly removed his captain's armband as the referee approached.

The French legend accepted the dismissal but made one final point before leaving the pitch.

The red card is correct, but didn't you hear or see what happened before?

Elizondo admitted he had no idea what had triggered the confrontation, but Zidane simply walked away without offering further explanation.

What did Marco Materazzi say?

For years, football fans debated what Materazzi had said to provoke Zidane's reaction.

The former Italy defender later claimed the exchange began after Zidane sarcastically offered him his shirt.

In the tension of that final in Berlin, amidst the bickering and insults, Zidane offered me his shirt, and I said no, that I preferred his sister.

He has repeatedly described the incident as one he wishes had never happened and admitted it has unfairly defined public perceptions of his career.

I don't like it because it doesn't do justice to what my career was.

He also revealed that he has never spoken to Zidane since that night in Berlin.

Zidane apologised - but never regretted it

Shortly after the final, Zidane apologised publicly, particularly to the children who had watched the match.

I want to ask for forgiveness from all the children who watched that. There was no excuse for it.

However, the French icon also insisted he could not fully regret his actions.

I do apologise but I don't regret my behaviour because regretting it would mean he was right to say what he said.

Years later, Zidane admitted he was not proud of the headbutt but accepted it as part of his history.

A legendary career remembered for one extraordinary moment

The irony remains impossible to ignore.

Zidane had produced another masterclass throughout the 2006 tournament, inspiring France past Spain, Brazil and Portugal before scoring one of the boldest penalties ever seen in a World Cup final.

Had France gone on to lift the trophy, he may have retired as a two-time world champion and strengthened his place among football's greatest players.

Instead, his career ended with perhaps the most famous red card in football history.

Yet despite that unforgettable mistake, Zidane's legacy remains secure. A Ballon d'Or winner, World Cup champion, European champion and UEFA Champions League winner, he is still widely regarded as one of the finest footballers the sport has ever produced.

The headbutt may forever be part of his story, but it has never defined the extraordinary brilliance that came before it.