Materazzi wins apology over racist claim

By Mike Collett

LONDON (Reuters) - Italian World Cup-winning defender Marco Materazzi won a formal public apology from the Daily Star in the High Court on Monday over its claim that he had racially abused France's Zinedine Zidane in 2006.

The British newspaper claimed Materazzi had racially abused Zidane during the 2006 World Cup final in Berlin when the Frenchman head-butted the Italian and was sent off.

Italy won the final on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra time in which Materazzi scored their equaliser. He also netted a penalty in the shootout.

Materazzi, who plays for Italian champions Inter Milan, sued the Star's publishers Express Newspapers over a series of articles and will receive "substantial damages and his legal costs" from the paper, his lawyer Steven Heffer said.

At a news conference following the hearing, Materazzi said through an interpreter that he was relieved the case had been settled, although cases are still proceeding against two other newspapers.

"It has been a very distressing time for my family and as a father I had to explain what was going on to my children," said the 34-year-old.

"There had to be new measures in taking them to school, and I explained that people just got things wrong. But I am very relieved and happy that this case is now over."

In his autobiography, published last year, Materazzi admitted he had made an insulting remark about Zidane's sister.