THE CANADIAN PRESS

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VANCOUVER, B.C. - Zinedine Zidane's charity soccer match Saturday in Vancouver is in danger of being cancelled after the former French star suffered a freak injury.

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THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/Apichart Weerawong

Retired French soccer star Zinedine Zidane.

Nick Smith, a spokesman for the game organizers, said Zidane injured his back while bending down to pick up his child Wednesday night as he was watching Vancouver's Canada Day fireworks display.

Organizers expect to make a decision on the game's status Friday. Smith said Zidane's chances of playing are "50-50."

"Fingers crossed is all I can say at the moment," said Smith about the game's chances of going ahead.

The game at B.C. Place is the finale in the three-game "Friends of Zidane" tour that has already staged events in Toronto and Montreal.

The former FIFA World Player of the Year underwent physiotherapy Thursday, but may have pulled a tendon in his back and recovery usually takes a week.

The games pit Zidane and other current and retired international soccer stars against local select sides with proceeds going to UNICEF and other causes.

Zidane, 37, helped France win the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000. The smooth-passing midfielder guided France to the 2006 World Cup final against Italy, but was sent off for head-butting Italian defender Marco Materazzi.

He later said Materazzi had insulted him.

Zidane, who won the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player, retired after that game.