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Football needs its roots, it needs its connection with the supporters. But those in charge seem to think they can do without them.

I'm not claiming that football is the nation's salvation in this area, but it's one of them, one little thing that apparently has captured the imagination of a large sector of our society. But when football can't be a relatively pure outlet, a fun thing, then it hurts itself.

What happens is once you start to understand football, you realise that it's not just about the physical side of the game and chasing after a ball. It's a strategic sport which requires a lot of intelligence. It's a very mental game.

Football is a passionate game. It excites us.

Football fans share a universal language that cuts across many cultures and many personality types. A serious football fan is never alone. We are legion, and football is often the only thing we have in common.

Football is like life - it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication and respect for authority.

Some of football's gaudiest displays of manliness are purely aesthetic. It's not what players do, it's how they look doing it.

And I think because of the passion of every English player and every English supporter, and every English journalist for the game, most of the game is played with passion, love for football and instinct, but in football you also have to think.

Many people agree with me that many things are not clear in football these days and it is not something people who watch football deserve. The situation will be the same while football is run by people who do not understand football.

Football is a more beautiful game in high definition.