Marco Materazzi admits he insulted Zinedine Zidane because he was "very arrogant".

The Italian defender was the victim of a vicious Zidane headbutt that led to the French talisman being sent off during extra-time in Sunday night's World Cup final in Berlin.

There have been several theories as to what Materazzi actually said to bring about Zidane's amazing reaction.

But the former Everton star told Gazzetta Dello Sport he definitely didn't call the French skipper a terrorist, and definitely didn't insult his mother.

"I held his shirt for a few seconds, he turned to me, looked at me from top to bottom with utmost arrogance and said: 'If you really want my shirt, I'll give it to you afterwards'. I answered him with an insult.

"It was the type of insults that we've heard before so many times on the pitch, and sometimes we don't even notice it.

"What's sure is that I never called him a terrorist: I am not cultured and I don't even know what an islamic terrorist is. My sole terrorist is her...," added Materazzi, pointing at his sleeping 10-month-old daughter.

"I certainly did not talk about Zidane's mother. For me, mothers are sacred," he added.