The Zidane incident in the World Cup final is to be the subject of an official probe, FIFA announced on Tuesday.
The football world governing body simultaneously made clear that the decision to show the French captain a red card had come, not from the video evidence beamed to millions of viewers around the world, but from the direct observations of the fourth official.
"Referee Horacio Elizondo sent off French player Zinedine Zidane for an act of violence against Marco Materazzi in the 110th minute," FIFA said.
"The incident was directly observed [without the use of a monitor] by fourth official Luis Medina Cantalejo from his position at the pitchside, who informed the referee and his assistants through the communications system," the official statement said.
FIFA will open a disciplinary investigation into Zidane's conduct to enable it to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident as exactly as possible," it said.
Red cards at international level were routinely investigated, FIFA said.
While Materazzi admitted insulting Zidane, he said he had been provoked.
Zidane was to speak out about the incident on French television last night for the first time.
He was to speak on pay channel Canal Plus at 6pm GMT.
Zidane was sent off when he head-butted Materazzi in the chest during the final in Berlin, which Italy went on to win on penalties.
The late showing of the red card over the incident prompted speculation from French coach Raymond Domenech, among others, that Cantalejo witnessed the incident via a TV monitor and then informed referee Horacio Elizondo.
FIFA said immediately after the match that video evidence, which it outlaws except for post-match disciplinary action, was not used.
Cantalejo also said in a Spanish radio interview that he saw what Zidane did and also explained the delay.
"I saw it happen live, I didn't invent anything. This incident shows how important the fourth official is. My job is to help the referee and that is exactly what I did," Cantalejo said.
"I don't know what Materazzi said to Zidane but there were protests about the action and Gianluigi Buffon went to talk to the linesman. When everything calmed down I told Elizondo what had happened," he said.
As far as Zidane is concerned, FIFA's probe will be largely symbolic. He has announced his retirement, and the French public, along with members of the establishment, have forgiven him.
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