ROME, July 23: Marco Materazzi, suspended for provoking Zinedine Zidane's headbutt in the World Cup final, has said he is a little bitter but has a clear conscience in his first comments's since FIFA's ban.

Italian media and football officials reacted to the two-match ban with indigation saying that his punishment was almost on a par with that of Zidane, who was given a three-match ban though he has retired anyway.

Materazzi, commenting for the first time since the verdict by football's world governing body, told Sunday's Gazzetta dello Sport: “I'm a little bitter but I can hold my head up high because I have the assurance of someone with a clear conscience.

“A lot of people have judged me. I have made errors in my life, but not always. I can look myself in the mirror and the important thing is to have a clear conscience.”—AFP