And so, one of the greatest Italian mysteries of the 21st Century is brought to an end.

Amateur humorist and sometime Inter defender Marco Materazzi has revealed what he said to Zidane during last year’s world cup final. Apparently Zidane, frustrated at Materazzi’s constant shirt pulling had said sarcastically to the Italian player “If you really want my jersey, I’ll give it to you after the match”, to which Materazzi responded ‘preferisco la puttana di tua sorella’ – or, ‘I’d prefer your whore of a sister’.

More than one football fan here has breathed a sigh of relief, given that Materazzi is cleared of having uttered a racist insult. La Repubblica in a none to subtle reproach to the Times -which credited Materazzi with the greatest sporting insult of all time recently – wondered today whether the London newspaper would be reconsidering its top of the sporting pops in light of Materazzi’s revelations.

It seems almost like shooting at ambulances to bring attention to the attitudes revealed by Materazzi’s insult – and the downplaying of its offensive quality.

What is interesting, though, is the continued villification of Zidane. Indeed the Times list comments were inundated with touchy Azzuri pointing out that, if anything, Zidane’s headbutt was the greatest sporting insult of all time. This despite the fact that Zidane practically handed the Italian team the trophy by his headstrong actions.

Still – it’s the winning that counts, one should remember, as Juventus return to Serie A.