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 FIFA opens Materazzi investigationWorld governing body reacts to Zidane claims
 Zinedine Zidane is shown the red card by referee Horacio Elizondo after head butting Materazzi. QUICKVOTESPECIAL REPORTZURICH, Switzerland (CNN) -- FIFA has launched disciplinary proceedings against Italy's World Cup-winning defender Marco Materazzi. The world governing body said Thursday it had taken the decision following claims made by French captain Zinedine Zidane, who was sent off for head-butting Materazzi in the final. Zidane told French TV on Wednesday that Materazzi had provoked him by continually insulting his mother and his sister. The French player, who has now retired, is already under investigation by FIFA and its chief Sepp Blatter hinted that Zidane could be stripped of the tournament's best player award. The incident, which came near the end of extra-time in the final that Italy won 5-3 in a penalty shootout, has cast a shadow over the World Cup finals. FIFA said both players had been summoned to attend a hearing of their disciplinary committee on July 20. A decision is expected later that day. "The proceedings were initiated in the light of initial statements from French player Zinedine Zidane who ... has since indicated in an interview that his actions came in response to repeated provocation," FIFA said in its statement. on Thursday. Zidane has the right to make a written statement, which must be submitted by next Tuesday. Materazzi will then be given a copy of the statement so he can respond. In the interview with television channel Canal Plus, national hero Zidane apologized to children and fans but did not regret the attack that led to his sending off. "He (Materazzi) pronounced very tough words about my mother and my sister. I tried not to listen to him but he kept repeating them," Zidane said. "I knew it was my last game and I knew that there were only 10 minutes to play but things happened very swiftly," he said. "I am a man before anything else," he added. Materazzi denialMaterazzi has denied insulting the France captain's mother. In an interview given to Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport on Wednesday, Materazzi said Zidane was his footballing hero. "I said nothing to him about race, religion or politics. I did not talk about his mother either," the defender was quoted as saying. "I lost my mother when I was 15 and it still upsets me to talk about it. Of course I didn't know that his mother was in hospital. I send her my best wishes." The Italian defender, who scored the equalizing goal in the final, said the incident started after he pulled on Zidane's jersey. "Zidane spoke to me, yelling, he looked at me with extreme arrogance, from top to bottom, saying, 'If you really want my jersey, I'll give it to you after (the match),'" Materazzi said. "I responded with an insult, it's true," he added. 
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