FIFA was anti-Italian in Materazzi case-minister

ROME, July 21 (Reuters) FIFA discriminated against Italy when it decided to punish defender Marco Materazzi for provoking French captain Zinedine Zidane during the World Cup final, Italy's sports minister said today.

Zidane butted Materazzi in the chest after being insulted and was sent off shortly before the end of the game. Both players were fined and given match bans by soccer's world governing body yesterday.

''There was a discriminatory attitude towards Italy,'' Sports Minister Giovanna Melandri told a news conference, adding however that the Rome government accepted the decision.

REUTERS DH KN1828