Zidane 'would rather die' than apologize to Materazzi

The former Real Madrid ace ended his glittering career by receiving a red card in the 2006 World Cup final for his assault on Materazzi.

Later on, Zidane revealed that the Inter Milan player cursed his mother, which prompted a staggering reaction.

"I will ask forgiveness from football, from supporters, from the team..," he told Spanish paper El Pais.

"After the match, I entered the dressing room and I told them 'I'm sorry. It won't change anything, but I'm asking for your forgiveness.'

"But as for him (Materazzi) I cannot. Never, never… It would be dishonorable… I would rather die."

Zidane admitted that he lost control in his last competitive game because of his mother's illness at the time.

"A lot of things happen on the pitch," he added.

"That sort of thing happens to me quite a lot. But in this case I couldn't contain myself.

"It's not an excuse, but my mother was ill, she was in hospital.

"More than once they have insulted my mother and I said nothing. But in this case …"