Materazzi was dismissed in the 50th minute of the game that Italy went on to win thanks to an injury time Francesco Totti spot- kick, and the Inter defender hit out at the referee saying the red card was unfair.

"The foul didn't warrant a red card, it was a foul from the side and I hit Zambrotta too," Materazzi was quoted as saying by Sky Italia on Tuesday.

"I saw the referee's eyes and it was useless to complain and may be suffering a long ban," he added.

Despite his fury at the referee, Materazzi said that he finds some consolation as he made his case clear to everybody who saw the game.

"The world saw what happened, I was sorry and in that moment the whole world falls in on you," he said

"The only person that can discharge me is the referee should he admit his mistake, but that won't happen, anyway the important thing is that the world saw what happened," the 32-year-old defender stressed.

With Materazzi out of Italy's quarter-final clash against Ukraine, Italy Coach Marcelo Lippi will be put into a tight spot as Alessandro Nesta is still doubtful for the Azzurri.