Horacio Elizondo has revealed the events that took place, leading him to dismiss Zinedine Zidane for a headbutt on Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup final.
The referee revealed to The Blizzard that he did not see the events unfold himself, but through the help of technology he managed to make a solid decision.
“Obviously, after the match I realised that it had been an enormous decision, thanks to the big media reaction to it,” Elizondo said.
“But right now, as I’m showing him the card, no. It’s just a player on a team. It’s the same.
“It was all done over the headset. When [Marco] Materazzi fell to the floor, the ball was up the other end of the pitch and of course I was keeping up with play over there. I whistle for a handball and give a free kick.”
“Then play switches and goes back into the half of the pitch Materazzi was lying in, but on the other wing, and I remember it was at that point that I saw him lying on the floor. I wait to see whether he gets up — he doesn’t get up… doesn’t get up… doesn’t get up, and I stop the match.
“From where I was to where Materazzi was, was a walk of about 25, 30 metres. So immediately I ask my assistant, Dario Garcia, “Dario, did you see anything? What happened? Why’s he on the floor?” He tells me, “I don’t know, I see him there on the floor but I didn’t see what happened.
“Then I ask Rodolfo [Otero], who was on the other touchline, in the other half of the pitch — without much hope, because he was a long way away and he tells me, “No, me neither.”
The decision wasn’t an easy one to make after-all, none of the officials had seen it, until the fourth official finally made it apparent to Elizondo, but he didn’t know what inspired Zidane to commit such an act.
“And that’s where I start to think… I had a lot of doubts, clearly something had happened, but if no one saw what it was… and then Luis Medina Cantalejo’s voice appears in my headset, and he says, “Horacio, Horacio, I saw it,” he says to me. “A really violent headbutt by Zidane on Materazzi, right in the chest.” Elizondo told The Blizzard.
“So obviously, when I get to the spot, I already know Zidane is on his way. I got to the spot, to where Materazzi was, and the Spaniard had already told me what I needed to know to make the decision that Zidane was going to leave the pitch.”
Elizondo cleverly went over to the assistant knowing full well he had no idea what happened, so as to make it appear that they were delegating what should happen to keep the crowd tamed.
“I went over to Dario, but I knew Dario didn’t know anything! So, why? Well, because that is understandable. Everyone understands if you go over to the assistant that it’s because the assistant is going to tell you something to help you make a decision.” Elizondo added.
