ZURICH: Former France captain Zinedine Zidane spent around 90 minutes at FIFA's Swiss headquarters on Thursday, facing a disciplinary hearing into the headbutting incident that earned him a red card at the World Cup final.
The 34-year-old three-times FIFA World Player of the Year was driven past a media scrum of some 50 reporters. A handful of Zidane fans wearing France team shirts cheered and shouted messages of encouragement to the player.
He gave little reaction after leaving in a large, black car.
Zidane headbutted the chest of Italian defender Marco Materazzi in the closing stages of the July 9 final in Berlin, which Italy subsequently won on penalties.
FIFA's five-member disciplinary panel will also consider possible punishment against Materazzi who has admitted insulting Zidane before the headbutt.
Zidane faces a fine and suspension -- despite the fact that he has retired from the game.
