Zidane to return to Algeria

2006-07-17

French football star Zinedine Zidane is planning to return to his parents' homeland of Algeria upon invitation from President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. The player's family in Aguemoune told visiting Minister of Employment and Solidarity Jamel Ould Abbes they were touched by Bouteflika's expression of solidarity in the wake of Zidane's head-butting incident at the World Cup.

By Lyes Aflou for Magharebia in Algiers – 17/07/06

[Getty Images] Jamel Zidane

French football team captain Zinedine Zidane told French TFI television that he would accept President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's invitation to come to Algeria.

"Yes, of course I want to go back to where my roots are and the country of my parents and live that life. And I have to live it," Zidane said.

Although the player was born in Marseilles, his parents come from the village of Aguemoune in the Bejaia prefecture in the region of Kabylia, from where a large number of people have emigrated to Europe.

Algerian Minister of Employment and Solidarity Jamel Ould Abbes visited Aguemoune on Friday (14 July) to donate a school bus, an ambulance, a set of wheelchairs and sports equipment for young people preparing to create their own football team. The player's older brother Jamel was among the delegation from the village.

The head-butting incident, which caused Zidane to be ejected from the World Cup final, was a topic of conversation between the minister and the delegation. Abbes told villagers Zidane's action towards Italian Marco Materazzi "restored the honour of all Africans who have been insulted."

Abbes was referring particularly to derisory chants fans have previously aimed at Cameroonian player Samuel Eto'o in Zaragoza and Ivorian Marc Zoro in Rome. The minister said that the Italian player's provocation of Zidane "was a slur against family honour -- considered sacred in Algeria".

A member of Zidane's family asserted that "You could see the behaviour of an Algerian responding to an attack on his honour in Zinedine's reaction."

A majority of Algerians agreed with the sentiments expressed by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in a letter to Zidane written two days after the World Cup final.

"In the face of what can only be described as a serious attack, you reacted first and foremost as a man of honour before accepting the consequences without turning a hair," the president wrote.

Bouteflika, who said he was "upset" by the incident, paid enthusiastic homage to the player. "I will always be delighted to welcome you here to your country, just as you are, with your family, at a time which suits you," Bouteflika wrote in the letter, which was reprinted by all Algerian press.

"Because you have never forgotten the country of your roots, Algeria and Algerians are proud of you. They will never forget you," he added.

Zidane's family told Abbes they were touched by President Bouteflika's support.

"Your presence here is proof of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's solidarity with all Algerians with regard to the defence of their honour," the Algerian press quoted Zidane's brother as saying to the minister.