Head-butting 'Zidane' ad withdrawn in Austria

Zidane-style head-butting is to be banned on Austrian public television, as broadcaster ORF has said it would withdraw World Cup ads in which ordinary people are shown copying the French soccer star's infamous move.

The series of spots by online betting company bet-at-home.com included one in which a young man gets a parking ticket from a policeman, walks up to him, and fells him with a head butt to the chest.

Austria's advertising watchdog council called for the adds to be pulled, complaining "they convey that violence can be used to solve conflicts," and that they use the slogan "Life is a game" for showing unfair behaviour.

However, the council said it had some understanding for one spot in the series in which a young woman floors a male coworker who made a sexist remark.

Bet-at-home.com was already criticized during the 2008 Euro championship for posters showing tongue-kissing teens. The ad watchdog said the images could cause an "an unwanted copycat effect" in children.

Zinedine Zidane was sent off in the 2006 World Cup final in Germany for head-butting Italy's Marco Matterazi after being insulted by him.