FIFA's disciplinary committee banned Italy star Marco Materazzi for two games Thursday for provoking France's Zinedine Zidane during the World Cup final.
The ban was only one game less than that handed out to Zidane, whose head-butt into Materazzi's chest earned him a red card eight minutes from the end of extra time.
Zidane said on French television he did not regret the violent conduct because the Inter defender offended "the women in my family".
Materazzi denied insulting Zidane's mother, claiming that "mothers are sacred to me" after losing his own while still a teenager.
But he admitted to Milan daily Corriere della Sera that "by exclusion" he had offended Zidane's sister.
A FIFA statement stressed that Materazzi's remarks had not been of a "racist nature".
The notorious incident sparked a storm of speculation in the media as to what the Italian had said to provoke such an extreme reaction.
There were even suggestions, later rebutted by Zidane, that Materazzi called him a terrorist.
The committee did not give in to calls to strip Zidane of the Player of the Tournament award. In the Corriere della Sera interview, Materazzi said he did not think the award should be revoked.
"He deserved it for his performance on pitch, he shouldn't be judged for one incident," he said.
The ban on Zidane is symbolic because he has retired from the game.
Materazzi was also fined 3,182 euros for "repeatedly provoking" his opponent. Zidane will have to pay a 4,773-euro penalty and has agreed to do three days of community service with children and youngsters too.
Before the disciplinary hearing, Materazzi's agent warned that treating on-field insults as seriously as violence could create a dangerous precedent.
He suggested it might lead to footballers justifying any type of bad behaviour with allegations of name-calling.
Italy won the World Cup 5-3 on penalties after Materazzi equalised an early Zidane penalty, leading the match to end 1-1 after 120 minutes of play.
Some commentators have claimed Zidane looked increasingly frustrated at France's inability to break the Italian defence despite dominating the latter stages. Within the soccer world there is a widespread feeling that such an act as Zidane's is unforgiveable no matter how much he was provoked, pundits say.
Trying to rattle opponents in various ways is part of the game, they say.
Materazzi already had a bad-boy image beforehand, due to his record of involvement in off-the-ball incidents. In 2004, for example, he was banned for eight matches for punching Siena defender Bruno Cirillo in the face. The ban was one of the longest in Serie A history.
