MILAN, Italy (AP) -- Marco Materazzi acknowledged he insulted Zinedine Zidane before the French captain head-butted him in the World Cup final, but repeated his denial that he called Zidane a "terrorist."

"I did insult him, it's true," Materazzi said in Tuesday's Gazzetta dello Sport. "But I categorically did not call him a terrorist. I'm not cultured and I don't even know what an Islamic terrorist is."

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A Paris-based anti-racism group issued a statement Monday saying Materazzi had called Zidane, whose parents emigrated to France from Algeria, a "dirty terrorist."

Zidane and Materazzi exchanged words in extra-time of Sunday's final in Berlin. Seconds later, Zidane lowered his head and rammed Materazzi in the chest, knocking him to the ground. Zidane was ejected from the match.

"I held his shirt for a few seconds only, then he turned round and spoke to me, sneering," the Italian defender told the newspaper. "He looked me up and down, arrogantly and said: 'If you really want my shirt, I'll give it to you afterwards."'

The 32-year-old Inter Milan player did not elaborate on exactly what he said to Zidane.

"It was one of those insults you're told tens of times and that always fly around the pitch," he said.

Also Tuesday, Algeria's president defended Zidane and said soccer fans shouldn't condemn the French star.

"We are just human beings, our duty is not to judge, our duty is to understand," Abdelaziz Bouteflika said in London after meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

I also heard that the Italian guy called Zidane's younger sister a whore...

Zinedine Zidane will speak at last.

The star French midfielder was to appear on television later Wednesday to answer the world's questions about what prompted him to head-butt an Italian opponent in the World Cup final, bringing a brutal end to his stellar career.

The interview with Zidane - who retired from professional soccer following France's loss to Italy on Sunday in a penalty shootout - was to be broadcast on channel Canal Plus later today.

Zidane and Italian defender Marco Materazzi exchanged words after Italy broke up a French attack in extra-time. Seconds later, Zidane lowered his head and rammed Materazzi in the chest, knocking him to the ground.

The abrupt act of aggression marred the end of the World Cup, with many warning it would tarnish Zidane's formidable legacy.

Zidane - a national hero in France - has not explained the move or spoken publicly since, leaving the sports world with the burning question: What did Materazzi say?
Would be really interesting to know what prompted him to do what he did.

French soccer star Zinedine Zidane apologized for head-butting an Italian opponent during the World Cup final, saying Wednesday that he was provoked by harsh insults about his mother and sister.

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