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Italian defender Marco Materazzi, who head-butted by Zinedine Zidane during the World Cup final, has denied insulting the France captain's mother.
In an interview given to Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport on Thursday, Materazzi said Zidane was his footballing hero.
"I said nothing to him about race, religion or politics. I did not talk about his mother either," the defender was quoted as saying.
"I lost my mother when I was 15 and it still upsets me to talk about it. Of course I didn't know that his mother was in hospital. I send her my best wishes."
Materazzi gave the interview before Zidane appeared on live French television to talk about the attack which earned him a red card in his last professional game.
The match finished 1-1 after the 34-year-old captain was sent off and France lost 5-3 on penalties.
In his television interview with Canal Plus Zidane said Materazzi had insulted both his mother and sister.
However, Materazzi told Gazzetta dello Sport: "Zidane was always my hero. I admire him greatly."
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