Qatar plans to re-install Zidane sculpture

Qatar plans to re-install a sculpture of French-Algerian soccer player Zinedine Zidane's head-butt during the 2006 World Cup final, which was removed in 2013, Qatar Museums Chairperson HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani said on Monday.

The 5-metre bronze work, called 'Coup de tête', was removed days after its unveiling. It would be remounted at the new 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum in Doha, according to the plans.

"Evolution happens in societies. It takes time and people may criticise something to begin with, but then understand it and get used to it," HE Sheikha Al Mayassa said.

She said the original site on the capital's seafront corniche was "not right" and that the sculpture would be remounted at the  3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum.

The sculpture by Algerian-born French artist Adel Abdessemed depicts the moment during extra time in the 2006 World Cup final when Zidane head-butted Italy's Marco Materazzi. Zidane was sent off and Italy went on to beat France on penalties.

Al-Mayassa told reporters the aim of displaying the work was to promote conversations about "stress on athletes...and the importance of dealing with issues of mental health".

"Zidane is a great friend of Qatar. And he's a great role model for the Arab world," she said. "Art, like anything else, is a matter of taste. Our goal is to empower people."