Zidane's headbutt statue removed after protests in Qatar

French Algerian born artist Adel Abdessemed’s five-meter high (16.4-feet) Coup de Tête sculpture is seen loaded onto a lorry after being removed from Doha’s corniche.

After Qatar had installed a sculpture of Zinedine Zidane headbutting Marco Materazzi, authorities have now been forced to remove it after protests. The statue was removed on Tuesday.

The statue was installed less than a month ago, as part of a prelude to the nation hosting the World Cup in 2022. It was supposed to be permanent but has now been removed.

According to AFP, conservatives in the country were against the installing of the statue as they considered it anti-Islam idolisation.

The statue is five metres tall and it immortalised Zidane’s headbutt on Italy’s Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup final, a move that saw Zidane sent off in the final game of his career. It was sculpted by Adel Abdessemed, a French artist born in Algeria.

Some Muslim countries do display statues in public, but Gulf nations who are conservative usually do not.

According to Doha News website, the statue will be moved to Abdessemed’s collection. His collection is currently on display in the Arab Museum of Modern Art.