Sheffield United writer James Shield's alternative take on Oli McBurnie's latest brush with authority

Perhaps, as officials at the governing body search for ways to improve their revenues and pay-off the rebuilding costs of Wembley, they should branch into the sphere of management consultancy.

Companies searching for ways to improve the efficiency of their workforce would, I’m sure, willingly hand over considerable sums in exchange for expertise like that.

If not, and the FA’s committees and councils decide to focus purely on maintaining their own reputation for organisational excellence, PR savvy and political adroitness, then Sheffield United’s Oli McBurnie had probably better decline any further invitations to cheer on his former club Swansea City - or even his beloved Rangers for that matter - following events at Cardiff last weekend.

It was there, for those unfamiliar with the story, where McBurnie was pictured getting pretty het-up during Sunday’s South Wales derby.

The centre-forward was also, allegedly, caught making an obscene gesture towards supporters in the home end. The ‘Nescafe Shake’, as those of us of a certain vintage often call it, for fear of upsetting the easily offended.

Admittedly, if it did, then it wasn’t tasteful behaviour. And McBurnie, following a couple of incidents since he joined United for a club record fee of around £20m last summer, has to be careful his exploits off the pitch do not detract from those on it where, ahead of Saturday’s fixture against Arsenal, he is beginning to produce the type of displays which persuaded Chris Wilder to invest such a considerable sum to acquire his services.

Unwanted and unnecessary distractions are seldom welcomed by managers.

But in the grand scheme of things, McBurnie’s actions hardly warranted a communique from the FA reminding him of his responsibilities.

Footballers at Premier League, Championship and increasingly League One level are frequently - and sometimes deservedly - criticised for being out of touch with those who scrimp and save all week to go and follow them.

It’s hardly surprising, given the exorbitant sums many of them earn. Amounts the sport has sold its soul for effectively subsidise through the sale of television rights and which can, in no way whatsoever, be justified in moral terms. Probably not in terms of good business practice either.

Now, I don’t know McBurnie’s politics. And, unless we ever become great friends or find ourselves out for a pint, I’ve got no real interest in them either.

Nor do I subscribe to the theory that men and women who kick a ball about for a living should be role models for young children.

If they are, and folk are prepared let people they’ve never met shape their children’s sense of what is right and wrong, then something has gone drastically wrong with British parenting.

But even if it has, and McBurnie is a moral compass for the nation’s youth, then his actions during what was, in truth, a pretty drab encounter which failed to live up to its pre-match billing as one of the fiercest rivalries in the sport could hardly be described as worthy of public censure.

Football stadiums should be a place where, for 90 minutes, people can let-off steam, shout and, providing they stay within the bounds of the law, perhaps even swear. (And yes, before any snowflakes choose to get in touch, I know McBurnie’s handywork could have seen him arrested for disorderly conduct. But I’ve never seen anyone arrested for simply doing that on the terraces).

Because, although those who want to completely sanitise the game won’t admit it, this is what helps create an atmosphere.

The same, the FA clearly think, can be said of the England band. They don’t hand them free tickets or pay them travel expenses. But a relationship of sorts clearly exists.

So, unless these guys and girls have chosen to ignore a request, one can only assume the powers-that-be feel playing the theme tune to The Great Escape, a film set during World War Two, is the most suitable way of celebrating English resilience, including when we play Germany, in the new millennium.

It doesn’t bother me but I can also understand why others might find it a little clumsy and archaic.

Clearly the FA, even though they presumably value a good relationship with their counterparts at the DFB headquarters in Frankfurt, don’t. Otherwise they would have asked the group to focus on the other 139 songs in the 140 strong repertoire they detail on their website.

The point is, people sometimes act in an uncouth manner or do things which are mildly irritating.

That’s what makes them ‘normal’. Something, until McBurnie had his knuckles wrapped, I mistakenly thought the FA wanted professional footballers to be.

The same can be said of UEFA who, two-and-a-bit decades ago, fined Robbie Fowler for displaying a t-shirt showing his solidarity with Liverpool’s striking dockworkers. Clearly they aren’t supposed to have a conscience, or heaven forbid make them public, either.

Here’s to a game followed by saints and played by polished corporate mutes.