The sanitation of football continues apace: now, it seems, even verbal provocation is unacceptable, after Fifa today banned Marco Materazzi for two matches for his part in Zinedine Zidane's infamous sending-off during the World Cup final.

Zidane's violent conduct inevitably produced a three-match suspension, which will come into effect should he come out of retirement, while he was also fined 7500 Swiss francs (£3260). Materazzi is 5000 Swiss francs (£2170) worse off.

While Materazzi admitted abusing Zidane, who retaliated with a vicious chestbutt, his suspension sets a dangerous precedent with regard to verbal provocation, which has hitherto been perceived as part and parcel of a man's game.

"In both of the players statements, the two players expressed regret over the incidents and presented their excuses to Fifa and the football community over what had happened," said the spokesman Andreas Herren. "They both stressed in statements that the verbal provocation was of an insulting nature but not - and I stress - of any racist nature."

In punishing Materazzi so strictly for the mundane sporting offence of "insulting" comments, Fifa has defenestrated norms and mores that have been part of football's fabric since time immemorial. And in doing so, they would appear to have opened a Pandora's Box: is sledging now banned? If not, what did Materazzi say that was so insulting as to demand punishment? Where is the line drawn? How can a line be drawn in an area that intrinsically produces the greyest shades?

Materazzi may be piqued at the decision, or he may see it as a blessing in disguise: depending on any unscheduled friendlies, it means he may miss the rematch between France and Italy in Paris on September 6.

Zidane, for his part, will not be stripped of the Golden Ball he was awarded as the player of the tournament. "It was not even discussed," said Herren, with a forthrightness that could easily be construed as confirming Fifa's subscription to the prevalent mood of Zidane's victimhood. In doing so, and in hitting Materazzi so hard, Fifa has tweaked the footballing landscape in a way that could have significant repercussions.