Head butt A headbutt is a strike with the head , typically involving the use of robust parts of the cranium as area of impact . Effective headbutting revolves around striking a sensitive area with a less sensitive area , such as striking the nose of an opponent with the forehead . A misplaced headbutt can cause more damage to the headbutter than the headbuttee . Mechanics of the headbutt . Headbutts can be used from close range such as from the clinch , or on the ground . They are typically applied to the head of the opponent , since the head is often a readily available target and has several sensitive areas . An effective headbutt can be performed with a forward , rising , sideways or backwards motion ; each being effective from different positions . Parts of the cranium with thick bone and high local curvature make for good weapon areas , and these include the forehead near the hairline , the outboard curved part of the parietal bone , and the occiput . Ideal targets are usually the fragile areas of the head , including the bridge of the nose , the cheekbones , the hinge area of the jaw , the temple , and the top edge of the eye socket . Hitting the opponent ' s teeth or mouth is likely to cause mutual damage . The chin of the enemy is also a bad position to headbutt . Headbutts in combat sports and martial arts . Headbutting is considered an illegal technique in nearly all combat sports , with a few exceptions such as Burmese boxing , professional wrestling , and some mixed martial arts competitions such as Finnfight . Reasons for illegality vary , from specific technical reasons to general inappropriateness : headbutts are prone to cause lacerations , often deeper ones than from punches Even though generally banned in sport application , several martial arts and self - defense systems do however include headbutting in the curriculum . In some rare systems , such as Eritrean Testa , headbutting is of major focus or is the sole focus . Headbutts in other sports . Headbutts are generally forbidden in most sports . On March 16 , 1996 , Dennis Rodman of the Chicago Bulls headbutted referee Ted Bernhardt during a basketball game in New Jersey . Headbutting has recently received some attention due to its use by some players during FIFA World Cup matches . Headbutting is considered illegal in association football and is punishable by a red card . In the 1998 FIFA World Cup , Ariel Ortega headbutted Dutch keeper Edwin van der Sar in the Argentina vs . Netherlands quarterfinal match and was sent off . In the 2006 FIFA World Cup another Dutch player , Mark van Bommel was headbutted , this time by Luís Figo in the Portugal vs . Netherlands Round of 16 match , but Figo received only a yellow card for his offense . In the final match against Italy , Frenchman Zinedine Zidane headbutted the Italian Marco Materazzi in the chest , for which he received a red card and a subsequent three match ban ( although the red card meant Zidane could play no further part in the match , the three - match ban had no effect since he had previously announced his intention to retire after the World Cup ) . In the Stratford horse races on July 23 , Paul O ' Neill headbutted his John O ' Shea - trained City Affair during the pre - race parade ring after losing control of the uncooperative horse . O ' Neill later apologized but received a one - day ban from the Horseracing Regulatory Authority . Headbutts as affectionate gestures . Whilst this is not yet common , it is far from unheard of for people to headbutt others as a display of affection . Typically , such headbutts will be aimed at the chest , stomach or arms ; they will be soft and gentle so as not to inflict pain . The origins are unknown , but it is probable that the practice is influenced by the nuzzling of pets , such as dogs , to their owners .