THE debate about FA Cup Final ticket allocations is a microcosm of the problem affecting football. At its heart is the question that explains, in part, the changes in the last generation and will guide the generation to come.

That is, does anyone care about the football family?

That group – made up of millions of ordinary people – does not include the much-derided but much-needed corporate fans.

It is made up of people who are out there playing and running grassroots football every week. They are the junior team managers, the amateur referees, the people who run the coaching courses, the administrators of the leagues up and down the country – they are the lifeblood of the game.

They are the people who are, in their own way, trying to address one of the big issues, from why England doesn’t produce enough home-grown stars to win the World Cup to how do we halt the growing obesity crisis among children.

The FA Cup is meant to be a celebration of the game and the final is its pinnacle.

It should not be a partisan event, but should be a celebration of the game of football.

And for that, the ground needs to have thousands of people who love the game, not just one of the two finalists.

To this end in future years the FA should look to increase the number of tickets given to the football family, not cut them.