FIFA has dished out suspensions to both Zidane and Materazzi . At the risk of reopening the can of worms I am astounded that Materazzi received one game less than Zidane. In fact, I'm shocked that Materazzi was suspended at all.

As FIFA stated in the FSC story  "both players stressed that Materazzi's comments had been defamatory but not of a racist nature."

It seems that FIFA has now set a very dangerous precedent in the case of the Italian. What's to stop a player who has been sent off for violent behaviour claiming he did it because he had been insulted and how will the disciplinary bodies now deal with these accusations?

We are regressing to the school playground. Forget an additional referee, perhaps FIFA should opt for monitors who can tell the referee if any of the players say bad words!

What's the line between defamatory comments and gamesmanship?

Or take Roy Keane infamous "tackle" on Alfe Inge Haarland. Keane claimed it was pay back for an earlier game when Haarland berated Keane for faking an injury when Keane went down with damage to an ACL.

I am not defending Keane's action it just seems that FIFA  have gone where there was no need to go.  

There were no racists comments from Materazzi but he gets two games for defamatory comments and being on the receiving end of an assault. Interesting logic from FIFA for sure.