Call Inter-pol: Marco Materazzi sues over police gag
Internazionale defender and all-round good guy Marco Materazzi is suing the producers of an Italian television programme for using him as the butt of their gag.
In an episode from 'Ispettore Collandro' (Italy's answer to George Gently - only with leather jackets and shades), one of the characters in the detective series complains about the performance of his Fantasy Football team, saying of Materazzi: "Even this time he got himself sent off..."
As a result of such defamatory slander, Materazzi is asking for €1 for every viewer that saw the scene.
"We have received a complaint from the player," harumphed TV director Marco Manetti of Manetti Bros. "The ironic thing is I'm an Inter fan; in fact in the series there are continual references to the team."
Given what happened to Zinedine Zidane during the 2006 World Cup final after comments made to him by Materazzi, Football Banter would expect the Inter stopper to be a touch more thick-skinned.
Then again Football Banter wishes to distance itself from any of the aforementioned allegations and not further denigrate the name of the veteran Inter defender.
Blog
Watch David Beckham's amazing table football trickshot
Mirror Football Blog 11:11 11/02/12We all know what David Beckham can do on a real football pitch, but it seems old Goldenballs is pret... Read More+
Column
Why farcical forced pre-match handshakes should be scrapped
Mark Lawrenson 08:01 11/02/12The pre-match handshake is a meaningless farce and should be scrapped. You shake the hand of an oppo... Read More+
Column
Jose would be perfect for Spurs but Harry could manage England part-time anyway
Mark Lawrenson 08:00 11/02/12Jose Mourinho would be the perfect choice for Tottenham. And surely Spurs would be a great fit for h... Read More+
Blog
What are the odds Suarez and Evra swap shirts at the final whistle? Derek McGovern's Bets of the Day
Betting Blog 22:00 10/02/12The FA reckon Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra should shake hands when they come face to face on Saturda... Read More+
Column
United v Liverpool has always been spiky... but it used to be about football too
Brian Reade 20:59 10/02/12We should have sacked Capello two years ago Why Moyes is the right man for Spurs Those who think to... Read More+
Column
We should have sacked Capello two years ago
Brian Reade 20:58 10/02/12United v Liverpool has always been spiky... but it used to be about football too Why Moyes is the ri... Read More+
Column
Why Moyes is the right man for Spurs
Brian Reade 20:57 10/02/12United v Liverpool has always been spiky... but it used to be about football too We should have sac... Read More+
Blog
Watch video of Sami Khedira and Lena Gercke's steamy GQ photo shoot
Mirror Football Blog 15:52 10/02/12It's a tough life being a top footballer part 3,876: poor old Sami Khedira. Not only is he forced to... Read More+
Blog
3PM Extra: Joe Hart's fart, when mascots attack and Turkish team's bus collides with express train
Football Banter 15:38 10/02/12Presenting quality football videos from the interweb, daily at 3pm. Here's today's collection: 1) We... Read More+
Column
Why does snow and extreme weather bring out the best in football fans?
Ian Winwood 14:09 10/02/12A few years ago, on the weekend before Christmas I went with my mum to see Barnsley play at Queens P... Read More+
Blog
Simon Bird's Premier League previews and predictions (Week 25)
Mirror Football Blog 12:09 10/02/12'Arry'll put a smile on those poor England boys' faces. Yeah, 'Arry's a man manager. Arm round the s... Read More+
Blog
The Best XI Liverpool vs Manchester United games
Mirror Football Blog 11:25 10/02/12The MirrorFootball Best XI is our new feature celebrating the very best of the beautiful game. Each ... Read More+
