The International Football Federation's disciplinary committee has opened proceedings against Italian player Marco Materazzi for his conduct in Sunday's World Cup final in Berlin.
FIFA said it opened the proceedings after statements Wednesday from French star Zinedine Zidane. Zidane was ejected from the second extra time period of Sunday's game for head-butting Materazzi in the chest. Italy won the World Cup for the fourth time by beating France on penalty kicks 5-3.
Zidane told a French television interviewer Wednesday that Materazzi had provoked him by insulting the French player's mother and sister repeatedly during the game. Zidane's mother is in the hospital.
FIFA has summoned both players to a disciplinary committee hearing July 20 in Zurich, Switzerland.