I’ll admit it from the off, I’m rather a traditionalist when it comes to the game I love. Technology is not something I see as a must, and a good solid challenge or heroic piece of defensive action are just as good to watch, in my opinion, as Lionel Messi weaving through a statuesque back line before delightfully chipping a stranded goalkeeper. So for me the way in which football is being warped by changes in rulings and increasingly card happy referees, is one I find to be particularly worrying.

The game is entering somewhat of a nanny state, with players becoming more and more reluctant to wear their heart on their sleeve, and show a real battling commitment to the cause. So for me the Tyne Weir derby of the weekend was a refreshing blast from the past, harking back to the times of ‘the mans game’ with blood, guts and passion in abundance. Don’t get me wrong I don’t agree with dissent, nor do I condone dangerous challenges, but to erode the commitment and the contact aspect of the sport would only serve to its detriment.

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After the weekend’s fiery encounter both Sunderland and Newcastle have been charged with a failure to control their players, which can be understood to an extent, but its hard to get past the feeling that its all a bit unnecessary. Nobody was injured in the fracas, and furthermore not one person really suffered, it was just two sets of players battling for their clubs, and what’s the harm in that?

Football is becoming increasingly warped from the original spectacle, and although evolution is necessary for survival, the way in which players are encouraged to become robotic, acting in a cold ruthless fashion is one that winds up fans across the nation. The booking for the removal of a shirt still riles me to this day. The iconic celebrations of Ryan Giggs swinging his jersey above his head and charging toward the crowd is one that lives with many fans of the beautiful game during the 1990’s, but to do this now would result in a caution. But why? Why is showing some heart, and some chest hair, such an issue? I can understand the punishments for entering the stands in the aftermath of a goal, as the dangers of crowd trouble are all to clear to following incidents through the years, but the removal of the shirt and the euphoria felt by players is something fans want to see. It’s not dangerous, and does not offend.

The elimination of the sliding challenge looks like it could be only a matter of years away, as referees becomes increasingly intolerant of such full-blooded acts. Reckless, over the top tackles, risking the safety of a fellow professional are not acceptable, but to remove this aspect all together would ruin one of the oldest art forms of all, defending. There’s no place for the likes of Ron ‘Chopper’ Harris or Norman ‘bites yer legs’ Hunter, but do we want to see games finishing with kinds of score lines you may find down the local park during a kick-around?

I’m aware I could begin sound like a bit of a dinosaur when it comes to the development of football, but to see the deterioration and the increasing ostracising of passionate play truly worries me. The nanny culture of the game we love is threatening to distance it even further from its roots, alienating some fans completely.

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