Algeria fans cheer Zidane, say head-butt OK
Security men outnumbered players when Zidane, on day four of five day visit to Algeria, went onto the field to deliver the ceremonial first kick at a game between l'Union Sportive de la Médina d'Alger et la Jeunesse Sportive de Médina de Béjaia.
"A thousand Thank Yous for everything, including for the well done head-butt," read one banner waved by a fan in the crowd of 15,000 at the July 5 stadium in the capital Algiers.
Another read: "A man's dignity is worth more than the World Cup".
Zidane, flanked by up to 50 tracksuit-clad police, went onto the pitch and kissed the players in greeting before the kick-off in front of a crowd of 15,000 -- not a bad turnout in the more than 60,000 capacity stadium in view of the appalling weather.
Widely regarded as the finest footballer of his generation, Zidane retired from soccer after being sent off in July's World Cup final for head-butting Italy's Marco Materazzi. Italy won the final after a penalty shoot-out.
Materazzi has said it was his mention of Zidane's sister which prompted the butt from the France midfielder.
Zidane, visiting the country of his parents' birth to inspect charity projects he has funded, has been warmly welcomed by a nation that sees him as an icon of success.
Zidane said he would like to help Algeria's soccer team, whose fortunes are in the doldrums, and hoped the Algerian and French national soccer teams could play each other in Algeria.
"I'd like Algerian football to recover its sparkle," he told a news conference. "As a friend and brother of the country I'm ready to help. I can give some advice. I'd like to see Algeria in the big competitions."
"I'd also like there to be a match between Algeria and France at the July 5 stadium. I don't know when that would be but I know that in France a lot of people would like that."
Algeria and France have traditionally had uneasy diplomatic relations since the giant north African country won independence from France in 1962 after an eight-year independence war.
Their national sides have rarely played.
The last time they met, World Cup champions France were leading 4-1 with 12 minutes left in Paris, when Algerian fans invaded the pitch. The game was called off.
Algerian football's heyday was over two decades ago when Algeria reached the World Cup finals in 1982.
The idea of Zidane helping restore Algeria's soccer fortunes remains a tantalising possibility for many in Algeria.
"Zidane shouldn't stop playing. In Algeria we need him to put our soccer back on track," said soccer fan Said Halif.
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