The rules of football must be changed to allow for a great distinction to be made between an attempt to hurt an opponent or for what are known as tactical fouls – and celebrating a goal.

As things stand today, a player is given a yellow card for a crunching tackle or for pulling an opponent’s shirt during a counter-attack. And the same punishment is given for a player who lifts up his shirt to celebrate a goal.

Having no differentiation between obstructive or tough play and celebrating a goal is an anomaly that should be corrected – and this can only be done by eliminating the yellow card given for players who celebrate in this way.

A goal is the climax of football, and players should be given leeway on how to celebrate their feat. What’s wrong with having a photo of a kid or a message to the fans and showing it off after a goal?

Of course, messages with racial, political or controversial comments should not be allowed, as football should remain aloof from issues that are not directly connected with the sport. In this respect, the yellow card should remain.

But there is absolutely no harm when players use their goal celebration to show their “human” side. We have arrived at a point where some clubs have instructed their players that they will be fined if they incur in a yellow card infringement for taking off their shirt – this is understandable on the part of the clubs, but at the same time it is depriving football followers of part of the fun.

It is a pity that the football authorities do not make this distinction. Having a player sent off because of two yellow cards for tough or obstructive play is one thing; and having him dismissed just because he was celebrating and wanting to show off how many goals he has scored or for dedicating the goal to a loved one is beyond comprehension.

It is easy to see that the referees do not like the rule either. Their body language when they show a yellow card to a player for this kind of celebration is completely different to when they have to take the same step for tough or obstructive play. In the former, what they’re saying to the player is that “I have to do this; I’m just applying the rules.”