World Football Strange but True: Zidane Sculpture, Bad RvP, Ukrainian Measles

You're a football fan, but we know what really piques your interest.

High art, psychology and epidemiology.

Fortunately for us all, football has kindly lent itself to all three subjects this week. The combinations may sound weird, but that's the point. These next five stories are all strange, but they're all true.

Enjoy, and add your own to the comments.

Big, Bad Wolf

The headbutt was already infamous. Now it's a work of art.

Zinedine Zidane's headbutt on Marco Materazzi during the 2006 World Cup final is now the subject of a new sculpture on display in New York City's David Zwirner Gallery. And you know you want to see it.

The sculpture by Algerian artist Adel Abdessemed is part of an exhibition called "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf." The exhibition, which started Feb. 17, runs through Saturday.

For more images, click here.

(h/t: Slacker Shack)

RvP a Bad Person?

Robin van Persie has been called many things this season, most of them good.

Newcastle United's Jonas Gutierrez, though? Not a fan.

RvP and Newcastle keeper Tim Krul became embroiled in an argument during and after Arsenal's 2-1 win over Newcastle on Monday. Now Gutierrez has launched an attack on Arsenal's captain for behavior Gutierrez called "not right."

"

I think Van Persie was wrong. There was no need for him to do that—they have won the game, it is finished. I can't understand a person like that. I think it is not right. When you feel like that, it is because you are not a good person.

"

Geez, Jonas. Tell us how you really feel.

"

He was the only Arsenal player who reacted like that. The others were saying to him, "Calm down, calm down." When you do that, the fans go crazy as well, so it's no good for the atmosphere of the sport. It didn't help the game—both sets of fans are having a good evening, they're enjoying the game.

"

Okie dokie, dude. Some people thought van Persie's fiery actions were good for the club. We'll just have to agree to disagree.

Psych 101

At this point, one almost feels bad for Fernando Torres. Almost.

Interim Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo has reportedly said El Niño's goalscoring drought is related to "psychological problems."

"He has a psychological problem and only Fernando can unlock it," Di Matteo said. "If he needs me, I am always here but it is obvious the change must come from him."

Psychological problems, eh? So does this mean Torres is about to start living a life of self-induced fantasy (spoiler alert) or reenacting the seven deadly sins on unsuspecting victims?

No? Whew.

The Wright Stuff

Queens Park Rangers are struggling after a run of five losses and two draws in their last seven matches. The London club currently find themselves in the relegation zone and face a tough run-in at the end of the season.

It's OK, though. Midfielder Shaun Wright-Phillips' old man is Arsenal legend Ian Wright, so QPR have at least one high-profile supporter.

Well, actually…

"Then you look at their run-in and I honestly can't see them getting a point out of that so it looks like, for me, Wigan, QPR and Wolves [to go down]," Wright is quoted as saying by Metro.

Not a single point? Dang. And I thought my old man was hard to impress.

Get Your Measles Shots

Finally, if you're planning a trip to the Ukraine this summer to watch Euro 2012 in person, you should know something.

You're gonna catch the measles.

That's right, the measles. There's been an outbreak of the same viral condition that most people are immunized against as toddlers.

Should be a hot time in the ol' Ukraine this summer.