ZURICH, Switzerland – Zinedine Zidane was banned by FIFA for three games Thursday for head-butting Italy's Marco Materazzi during the World Cup final.
Materazzi was suspended for two matches.
World soccer's governing body also fined Zidane $6,000 and Materazzi $4,000 after a disciplinary committee heard the former France captain's account of what led to the incident.
Zidane, who retired from soccer after his team's loss in the July 9 final in Berlin, was sent off for ramming Materazzi in the chest with his head.
Since he has retired, Zidane agreed to do three days of community work with children, as part of FIFA's humanitarian projects.
Italy won the match 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 extra-time draw.
Zidane, who had already submitted written testimony, spent about 90 minutes in a private hearing Thursday morning. Materazzi appeared before the FIFA panel last week.
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