THE red mist descended upon Zinédine Zidane on Sunday, brutally exposing the psychological shortcomings of one of football’s most gilded performers.

It is in the nature of professional sport for emotions to run high but Zidane’s reaction to Marco Materazzi’s verbal provocation was a stunning example of how even the most experienced players can lose self-control in the crucible of a career defining contest.

It is Zidane’s misfortune that his shameful headbutt will for ever cast a shadow over an otherwise formidable reputation.

Some players have a natural predisposition to react aggressively (Zidane, for example, has a history of hot-headedness). Indeed, many coaches will argue that certain players need their anger in order to perform.

While the scientific evidence is sketchy, plenty of anecdotes point to the idea that reducing a player’s aggressive instincts can take away a special part of them. This was an argument made recently by Sven-Göran Eriksson with reference to Wayne Rooney. But whether we accept this viewpoint or not, common sense tells us that if a player is to have the maximum impact upon a match, he needs to be a position where he can influence the game — not sitting in the dressing-room like Zidane during the closing minutes of the World Cup final.

Knowing the hot buttons or triggers that can push a player towards a violent response is valuable information both for the individual player and his team-mates — and, of course, the opposition. Players and coaches must expect these buttons to be targeted and pushed by the opposing team with ruthless precision. With this knowledge, and expectation, comes the potential for choice in “red mist” moments.

If a player is being actively targeted, recognition of the early warning signs can help team-mates to become pro-active in trying to calm a potentially explosive situation before it gets out of hand. This level of awareness can be critical when the emotion of the contest is reaching fever pitch.

Practical strategies can be utilised by players to help to control their levels of anger or arousal, effectively allowing them to channel the energy into their game in a positive way.

While the simulation of such situations in training can be tricky and should be carefully managed, this can allow for the formulation of solutions such as refocusing strategies, enforced “time-outs”, and specific breathing techniques that can all play a part in the management of high levels of arousal.

Essentially, it comes down to finding a strategy that allows the individual player to stay in control — and on the pitch. Getting angry is perfectly natural but it is now a key part of any footballer’s psychological armoury that he is able to ensure that anger does not lead to aggression.

It is also important for a player to understand that, when opponents take the time and effort to target you, they are paying a back-handed compliment. It is unlikely that the opposition would bother to target a player if they were not fearful of his ability.

This “reframing” of the treatment handed out by the opposing side can be enough sometimes to help a player to channel the negative energy. This way of making meaning out of such situations can help the player to see the bigger picture and retain control of their internal state.

By staying in control and remaining on the pitch, players such as Zidane and Rooney have the potential, in a fraction of a second, to ruin the opposition’s day. By lashing out they have the potential to shatter the dreams of a nation. Zidane has the rest of his life to reflect upon that brutal reality.

• Pete Lindsay is a Chartered Psychologist at Sheffield Hallam University’s Centre for Sport and Exercise Science