The world is divided over who’s to blame in the case between Zinedine Zidane of France and Marco Materazzi of Italy. After Zizou’s compelling address on French TV yesterday, pundits, fans, and perhaps even FIFA officials are wondering who’s the villain and who’s the victim. BBC News sizes up the case, noting “an impressive array of character witnesses forming behind Zidane,” while support for Materazzi, the supposed victim, is wearing thin. A recent poll conducted by Le Parisien shows that 62 percent of French people believe Zidane was provoked into action. He has also been backed by several former teammates, national team players and coaches. “He was touching, dignified and human in the television interview,” said former France national team coach Michel Hidalgo. “We have made him into a god, we have canonized him but above all he is a man, and a man is fragile and breakable.” Zidane’s sponsors have also backed him. While supermodel Kate Moss was “dropped her like a hot brick” following a cocaine scandal, Adidas, who has been with Zidane for 10 years, said “[Zidane] can stay on as long as he wishes.” Meanwhile, the case for Materazzi hinges on previous incidents highlighting the France star’s short fuse. Said Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, “It was an ugly reaction but in football sometimes these things can happen. However, this is not the first time Zidane has done something like this.” The main question, the article says, is whether Zidane’s reaction was too heinous regardless of the provocation, or is he rather a man “who erred on being pushed to the limit”? As usual, it will be FIFA who decides, by either taking away or leaving him with the Golden Ball after completing its investigation.