In a Champion’s League play-in match between Spain’s Villarreal and Denmark’s Odense, a rather minor run-in between two players quickly turned unnecessarily violent.

Andreas Johansson of Odense took down Borja Valera of Villarreal. The foul was probably worth a yellow card, but it wasn’t especially vicious. After the initial contact, however, Johansson accidentally kicked Valera in the back of the head while trying to avoid doing that very thing. That was a big mistake.

Incensed, and apparently inspired by Pamplona’s running of the bulls, Valera leapt up from the ground and plowed his bald skull into Johansson’s chest. The blow sent Johansson flying backwards about three feet.

As you can see, one of Johansson’s teammates goes to confront Valera immediately after the head-butt. I assume he said, “dude, you better check yourself before you wreck yourself,” or the Danish equivalent thereof.

Of course, this latest incident still isn’t as impressive as Zinedine Zidane’s wicked headbutt of Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup Final. But it’s not bad.

Check out how he makes a mockery of this kid during a recent event for Adidas.  If Zizou didn’t have mercy and shoot the ball after a couple of sweet moves, that goalkeeper would likely still be diving back and forth in an attempt to stop the world class footballer.

Hat Tip – [Deadspin]

It was the moment that saw the historic career of Zinedine Zidane come to a rather painful conclusion.  Having scored his team’s lone goal in the 2006 World Cup final against Italy, Zidane and his French International squad found themselves tied 1-1 in extra time when the unthinkable occurred.

After being the victim of a verbal insult from Italian defender Marco Materazzi, Zidane turned around and delivered “the headbutt heard around the world.”  The image of his head driving into the chest of Materazzi would forever be entrenched in the minds of French and Italian soccer fans everywhere.  In fact, memories of the image have extended beyond the two European countries to become one of the most memorable moments in World Cup history.

Zidane would be sent off with a straight red card, the Italians would win the title in a shootout, and the rest is history.  As for the image of Zidane’s noggin blasting into the Italian crest on Materazzi’s jersey, it would be recreated in just about every manner possible, and has even inspired a commercial for Bet-at-home.com, which has since been pulled from Austrian television airways due to its portrayal of violence.

If they thought that was bad, I wonder what the Austrian television police would think of these images?

Four years ago in Germany, French captain Zinedine Zidane was penalized for headbutting Italian defender Marco Materazzi during extra time of the 2006 World Cup final.  Zidane would be sent off the pitch with a straight red card, Italy would win in a shootout, and the image of his head driving into the chest of Materazzi would become one of the most memorable moments in World Cup history.

Bet-at-home.com is attempting to relive that moment through a series of commercials that depict regular people retaliating to comments from their peers by delivering a headbutt of their own.  Unfortunately, the Austrian television police have pulled the commercials.  They feel that the adds are sending the wrong message, telling people that “violence can be used to solve conflicts.”

Seriously?  Are people really going to start headbutting each other because they saw it on a commercial for a gambling website?  Perhaps a disclaimer at the bottom telling viewers that “headbutting is wrong” would help?

I thought the Zidane incident taught us all that headbutting does not solve conflicts.  It only creates greater ones!

Here are a few more Bet-at-home.com commercials…

Hat Tip – [The Spoiler]

Video cameras caught up with the former French international as he was challenged to a game of pool.  That game, however, did not last all that long.  One shot, to be exact, as Zidane sent all seven balls on the table into the same side pocket with a simple stroke of the cue.

Most would likely ask the question, “was it real?”  I on the other hand am still trying to figure out what that man is doing spooning Zindane’s ass from behind as he bends over to shoot.

He’s no Steve Nash, but Zidane has now proven that he is no one-trick pony either.

Unhappy with being second best to Barcelona in Spain, Real is looking to improve an already talent-loaded team, and they may not be done just yet.  Reports had indicated that they were interested in Manchester United superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.  Should they land him, it will surely mean the rising dominance of Spanish clubs in European football.  England has held the reigns for the past couple of years, making their mark on the Champions League, but with Barcelona’s victory in 2009, and now the free spending of Real Madrid, Spain may be the new center of the soccer universe.  Oh, and lets not forget their Euro 2008 championship.

Manchester United will surely have something to say about Ronaldo leaving, but if things go well for Real, 2010 may be the year of Spain, and with the World Cup set for South Africa next year, Spaniards will hope for just that.  Another celebration (this time minus Messi) is exactly what they are looking for.  Just make sure the parade busses can handle the load.

Real Madrid signs Kaka from AC Milan – [FoxSports]

He also been compared to the soccer stars, Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo.  Real Madrid has also reported an interest in the 6 year old prodigy after watching the You Tube video.

“He has an amazing talent. He plays every day and has a great passion for football,” Christian Lazaoui, president of Roubaix, Madin’s local club, said.

“He can cross the ball, control it, swerve, pass between the legs – he is spectacular with the ball… he really is magic with it.”

Hopefully 6 year old Madin Mohammed doesn’t buckle under pressure and he turns out to be a soccer superstar.

Meet the mini Zinedine Zidane, aka Madin Mohammed – [TimesOnline]