World Gong's Gone Wrong World Player of the Year Zidane Does Not Deserve to Win 2006 Award, Says Natasha Woods

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SHOULD sentiment get in the way of common sense tomorrow night at Zurich's world-famous opera house, it will only add to the huge body of evidence that awards ceremonies should be banned sine die. That Zinedine Zidane is even on the short list for Fifa's World Player of the Year shows how easily football can descend into farce.

After the BBC Sports Personality of the Year last weekend, you would have thought it couldn't get any worse. But now we're apparently contemplating giving out a golden gong for most memorable head butt. Well done Fifa, and the coaches and captains of the 207 national teams who came up with the short list.

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World Gong's Gone Wrong World Player of the Year Zidane Does Not Deserve to Win 2006 Award, Says Natasha Woods

Hopefully Ronaldinho or Fabio Cannavaro will walk away with the award, for a strong argument can be made for both the supremely- gifted Brazilian and the captain of Italy's World Cup winning side. But Zizou? Fifa, never short of spin, ar...

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