Italy's Marco Materazzi has denied insulting Zinedine Zidane's mother in the incident that led to Zidane's sending off in the World Cup final.

Zinedine Zidane has publicly apologised for his sending-off, but claimed he did not regret his actions against Materazzi. He said Materazzi insulted his mother and sister in the seconds leading up to the incident, which saw the France midfielder thrust his head into the Italy defender’s chest.

Materazzi, who scored the equaliser for Italy on Sunday, made a statement of his own while Zidane was speaking on French television.

“I didn’t mention anything about religion, politics or racism,” he said. “I didn’t insult his mother. I lost my mother when I was 15 years old and still get emotional when I talk about it. Naturally, I didn’t know that his mother was in hospital but I wish her all the best.

“Zidane is my hero and I have always admired him a lot.”

Zidane admitted that his behaviour had been inexcusable.

"Afterwards I explained to the referee that I had been provoked, but my behaviour is not forgivable," Zidane said.

Without Zidane, who had earlier given France the lead with a penalty, extra-time finished with the score locked at 1-1, and Zidane’s team lost the penalty shoot-out 5-3 to Italy.

Asked whether he plans to attend FIFA hearings into the incident, Zidane said that he would seek to defend himself.

“I will go and I will tell everything I have just said,” he added. “The reaction is always punished but if there is no provocation there is no reaction. The guilty person is the one who provokes.

“If I reacted that way, it is because something bad happened. Do you really believe that 10 minutes before the end of my career I would be able to make such a bad gesture? The provocation was very serious.”

The incident was a sad way to end what has been a glittering career for Zidane, but he insisted he would not change his mind about retiring.

“This is a decision I have made and I will not go back on it,” he said. “This is definite. I will not play again.”

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