FIFA president Sepp Blatter has hinted Zinedine Zidane could be stripped of the Golden Ball award because of his actions in Sunday's World Cup final.

International football's governing body have opened an inquiry into the incident which saw the France captain sent off for head-butting Italy defender Marco Materazzi in the chest.

Zidane is expected to speak publicly for the first time about his red card on French TV tonight, while Materazzi has confirmed that he insulted the former Real Madrid midfielder.

Zidane pipped Italy duo Fabio Cannavaro and Andrea Pirlo to the prize for the best player at the finals in Germany, which the Azzurri won on penalties.

But Blatter has insisted: "I have ordered our disciplinary committee to open an enquiry regarding that episode.

"We will await the result before taking action.

"The presumption of innocence until proven otherwise is and remains a sacred principle."

He added in an interview to Italian national newspaper La Repubblica: "The winner of the award is not decided by FIFA but by an international commission of journalists.

"Having said that, FIFA's executive committee has the right and the duty to intervene when faced with behaviours that are against the ethic of sport."

Blatter, though, admitted he was "saddened" by Zidane's reaction and added the 34-year-old felt "he didn't merit any medal" after Sunday's final in Berlin.

He added: "I have known Zidane for many years.

"To have seen him react in that way left me saddened, for him and for fair-play.

"I have been told that he was really sad.

"I didn't see him after the game. He was apparently in bad shape.

"I was told that at the end of the game the French Federation executives asked Zidane to go and receive his medal and he replied that he didn't merit any medal."

The sending-off, despite Italy's subsequent victory on penalties, has been the main talking point of the final.

Having retired after the match, Zidane may feel uninhibited by FIFA's investigation and free to speak out.

Theories have abounded over what defender Materazzi might have said to provoke such a furious reaction from Zidane.

The former Everton defender has conceded he made an offensive remark but Zidane is yet to give his version of events, although his agent has admitted the reaction was due to a "serious comment".

Materazzi had been expected to make a statement on the matter today, but that was before FIFA announced they would be looking into the incident. FIFA have given no indication as to how long their investigation will last.