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If we take the joy out of the game we are left with nothing. That is why David Moyes getting booked for celebrating a 97th minute winner is downright embarrassing.

Moyes ran on to the pitch - well, kind of jigged in sheer delight - because Everton had snatched a dramatic late leveller at Brighton. You begin to wonder whether the officials actually know what that means.

When did they lose their sense of fun? When did they lose their love of the game? When did football become a boring spreadsheet? When did football get tangled up in silly referee speak?

That is the point. Yes, by the letter of the law (whatever that means). But what about the glory of the game?

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I love David Moyes. I love his passion. I love what he stands for. His standards. His principles. He gives so much in every job he does. So many managers do not engage. But he really cares what fans think.

And Everton fans are some of the best in the business. It is about 275 miles from their stadium to the AmEx. Train journeys - including numerous changes - take up to six hours. It did not sound the best game. And then they snatch something at the end.

That is the joy of being a fan. If you’ve ever been there, you should never lose it. Those stupid days when you got soaked in an away end with no roof. The team was pretty ropey. But got something. That is why Moyes celebrated.

That is where the refs have lost sight. Enzo Fernandez ripped off his shirt at Chelsea and probably expected a yellow card. He had just scored an incredible winner after his side cam back from 2-0 down to win 3-2. I wish they did not book him. But, sadly, we’ve come to expect it.

But with Moyes. Come on. This is something out of the ordinary. Just think of that infamous David Pleat jig across the pitch when Luton beat Manchester City to stay up in 1983. He would be looking at a life ban! Pleaty hasn’t changed. His love is still there. And the same for Moyesy.

The referee? Chris Kavanagh. The same Chris Kavanagh who was VAR that Moyes criticised after a game three weeks ago.

Referees lost something at Tottenham in October 2023 when Liverpool forward Luis Diaz’s goal was disallowed. VAR quickly spotted the shocking error. But rather than bring the play back to give the goal, they decided they couldn’t. Play had restarted. What a nonsense.

Rather than right a wrong which every fan in the stadium would have accepted, they became jobsworths. No common sense is allowed. That is what you are up against. That is why they keep doing stupid, crazy killjoy things like booking David Moyes.

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