Materazzi gets another victory over Brit tabloids

Marco Materazzi has continued his libel action against the British tabloids over the Zinedine Zidane head-butt incident by successfully winning a second apology and damages, this time from The Sun newspaper.

Zidane was infamously sent off during the 2006 World Cup final in Berlin during Italy's victory over France after he head-butted Materazzi in the chest in extra time.

The following day a number of English tabloids printed a number of defamatory articles in which they stated that Zidane reacted after Materazzi called him "the son of a terrorist whore."

It was later revealed that Zidane's sister was the subject of the insult and that no racism nor the word "terrorist" was ever used. However, a number of newspapers failed to correct their error or apologize, which left them open to libel.

Materazzi won a lawsuit against The Daily Star this past March, and he has now also secured a victory against The Sun.

"The Sun newspaper have now withdrawn the allegations made against Marco and accept that he did not say anything of a racist nature to Zidane. The Sun have agreed to pay my client damages," lawyer Steven Heffer of Collyer Bristow LLP stated.

The Sun's apology read: "In several prominent articles in July 2006, we wrongly stated that during the World Cup final the Italian defender, Marco Materazzi, used vile racist abuse by calling Zinedine Zidane the son of a terrorist whore thus goading Zidane into angrily head-butting him.

"We also said that Mr. Materazzi was a hypocritical liar when he denied it and was rightly condemned for what he said. "We withdraw these allegations and accept that Mr. Materazzi did not say anything of a racist nature. We apologize to Mr. Materazzi for any distress caused and have agreed to pay him damages."

Materazzi, who had a shocking game in Italy's 3-0 Euro 2008 defeat to Holland, also has a case ongoing against another tabloid The Daily Mail.