Federation seems bent on taking the joy out of our beautiful game

FOOTBALL Federation Victoria has scored itself an own goal.

Banning North Geelong coach Micky Colina for a game after he celebrated with his team is a decision that just doesn’t make sense.

Colina is an emotional man. He wears his heart on his sleeve. So when Michael Simms scored a 90th minute goal to give North Geelong a 4-1 lead and seal its status back in Victoria’s top flight, Colina’s first reaction was to run to his boys.

By the letter of the law referee Adam Bavcar was right to red card Colina.

He shouldn’t have been on the pitch.

But how many times this season, let alone in the past decade, have we seen coaches run on to the field to celebrate with their teams?

How many have been banned? Not many, if any.

In sport there are just so many grey areas, yet this one is being treated as black and white by the state’s governing body.

Surely if FFV took into account what was attached to North Geelong’s win and what it meant then it would have overturned the ban.

It raises the question of whether FFV is trying to sterilise the game.

Does it want to take all the emotion and spirit from its coaches?

In the same fixture last season when North Geelong lost 2-1 to be relegated, Melbourne Victory fans stormed the pitch after both goals. When the second goal was scored the corner flag was ripped out. There wasn’t a penalty. In the A-League fans have celebrated the touchline antics of Josep Gombau — the former Adelaide United coach was partial to the odd run to celebrate with his players.

Broadcasters have even used some of that footage in their promotional videos. And so they should.

Every single time a player, fan or coach steps on to a ground they are driven by emotion. It’s what makes the game we love beautiful.

But decisions like this leave you questioning whether those in control of the game actually understand what makes it so great.