KOCHI: Thousands of Zinedine Zidanes are going to turn up at the Nehru stadium when Chennaiyin FC take on Kerala Blasters in the return leg of ISL-3. A group of Blasters fans have decided to wear Zidane masks on Saturday as a mark of protest against Chennaiyin coach Marco Materazzi.
The immediate provocation for this came after Materazzi got involved in a fracas with Blasters striker Kervens Belfort and team officials at the end of the earlier encounter between the two teams in Chennai last month.
It’s been ten years since Zidane headbutted Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup final in Berlin but Blasters fans are keen not to let the Chennaiyin coach forget that unsavoury incident as they don’t seem to be content with the one-match ban slapped on the Italian for improper conduct.
The fans claim that they have already manufactured 35,000 Zidane masks and are planning to sell it for Rs 10 outside the stadium. “We all know how Materazzi gets antagonized by the mere name Zidane. We just wanted to register our protest for his poor behaviour. And wearing Zidane masks is the best possible way to show our displeasure. We will stand behind our players at any situation,” said Ali, one of the Blasters fan, who is behind the protest.
Meanwhile, Materazzi doesn’t seem to be too concerned. “I would use that money for food instead of this,” said the Chennaiyin coach when reporters brought to his notice the protest planned against him on Saturday.