Was that a red card?

Here are the few reasons why i feel Zidane shouldnt have been redcarded

1. According to wikipedia article, a headbutt is a strike with the head and effective headbutting involves striking a sensitive area with a less sensitive area like striking the nose of an opponent with a forehead. Also a misplaced headbutt can cause more damage to the attacker. In this case, headbutt involved two sensitive and pretty hard areas (chest with the head), so it could have caused more damage to Zidane rather than Materazzi.

2. In the earlier part of the match, Materazzi was the one who successfully headed the ball into the opposition goal. Zidane’s attempt just minutes before the incident was rather futile, Buffon saved it with aplomb. So he could have asked for an advice or few from the defender. They would have discussed the fine art of heading with Marco teaching a trick or two, after which the Frenchman in an attempt to show his guru, how well he had learnt the art in few seconds, adeptly placed his header in the master’s chest. So punishment should rather go the master coz he should have told his pupil that he should head ‘only’ the ball.

3.Or of late ‘Galactico’ would have got more devout and started following Hindu traditions,(thanks to his huge fan following in India) of getting Ashirvadhs from Gurus (by placing his hand on the head). He was heading fast towards his guru trying to bend down and touch his legs. Unfortunately it turned out too fast that he collided with him.