Zidane Returns To Soccer Field To Play In Charity Event
02/25/07 -- Todd Sikorski - Chiang Mai,
Thailand (AHN) - The notorious Zinedine Zidane is back. The Frenchman known over
the world for his head-butting an opponent at the World Cup Finals last year
appeared in his first soccer match on Saturday since that incident. The contest
was not a competitive one though as it was a charity event in Thailand.
Zidane joined a bunch of soccer stars from Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and
Indonesia
for the match.
Recent speculation has centered on "Zizou" possibly doing a David Beckham and
playing
for a soccer club in the United States soon.
He ignored those rumors at a press conference in Thailand.
"I've found a new world after retirement," he said. "I'm very excited to
experience new
things such as playing in this match."
While soccer fans cheered him on at the charity event, Zidane showed no lapses
in
judgment like he did on the World Cup stage last year. His red card after he
headbutted
Italian Marco Materazzi in the Finals is the last visual anybody has over his
storied career.
Some have even blamed him for France's loss in the game which happened after
Italy
beat the team on penalty kicks.
Instead, in Saturday's event, Zidane showed spectators some of his great talent.
At one
point, he chipped the soccer ball over a goalkeeper's head for a score which
drew loud
cheers from everyone in the soccer stadium.
