Red card for thugs

Yet, while football per se has become welcoming of families and the more mature fan base that has evolved, a nasty undercurrent persists. It was illustrated by the police operation that was required before York City's FA Cup replay against Rotherham in case there was a repeat of the violence witnessed during the first leg.

The problems are more deep-rooted than local rivalries – the glorification of hooliganism by a succession of misguided books, a new generation of youths disenchanted with society and premeditated thugs realising that games involving lower league clubs have a diminished police presence.

Football, however, has come too far for a tiresome minority to ruin the so-called beautiful game for the many. It is why the clubs, with the police's help, must impose life bans on all those convicted of violent incidents at stadia, or within the proximity of grounds on match days. Nothing less will suffice.