Guess what? The ethnics haven't gone anywhere. They're still driving the game.

How do we know this? Because of the FFA Cup. As the NPLs of nine state and territory associations shake down over the next few weeks to fill their 22 spots for the showpiece section of the competition, 25 of the 41 remaining minnows are clubs steeped in ethnic heritage. And this from a starting line of 721 clubs across the nation. It's a significant percentage.

Croatian, Greek, Italian, Scottish, Macedonian, Irish, Jewish, Cypriot, Serbian, Turkish. That's the mix. And by the time the last spot for the round of 32 is filled following the Northern Territory qualifier (possibly involving an Irish and a Scottish club) in Alice Springs later this month, I'd wager the percentage of so-called "ethnic" clubs will be even higher. The cream rising to the top.

Why does this matter? Because it's time we all grew up. The ethnic element of the game doesn't need, or deserve, to be demonised and victimised. It never has. Confusing anti-social behaviour with ethnicity has been an easy out for too long. There are bad apples in every barrel. It doesn't mean you juice the lot.

What those close to the coal face have long understood – more so since the advent of the A-League 12 years ago – is that passion will always be what counts. It's why the migrants who have come to this country bringing a love of football with them continue to drive the engine room of the game with such force, and enthusiasm. Despite so often being marginalised, their passion still makes them go the extra yard.

The architects of the A-League might have thought – and perhaps hoped – that they'd bury the game's ethnicity once and for all by setting up a sanitised, corporatised, shop window. Get rid of the flags, the smoke, the smells, the chants, of "old soccer", and "new football" will sweep the nation's most-played sport into the mythical "mainstream".

The A-League has been a huge success story, no doubt. But as the A-League clubs, and the FFA, ponder how to better connect the game with its foundations, and how to revitalise the broken development system, they find themselves back in familiar territory. Dealing with ethnic clubs. They're not the only contributors at this level of football, of course. But as the FFA Cup shows, they're the ones still setting the bar.

Get rid of the hang-ups, embrace the diversity, and a bigger, better, world opens up. It doesn't have to be Us and Them. Two of the most memorable FFA Cup nights have been at Olympic Village, home of Heidelberg United, and Edensor Park, home of Sydney United. Packed houses, record ratings. The smell of souvlaki, or cevapi, in the night air. Believe it or not, ethnicity sells. If it's done right.

Sydney United, proudly, staunchly, of Croatian descent, are starting to get it. They're fulfilled by their past, but not trapped by it. Here's a tricky question. If the FFA removed its ban on ethnic names, would the club go back to calling itself Sydney Croatia? Would it retreat into its shell?

"I don't believe we would," says long-time official Sam Krslovic. "The Sydney Croatia name isn't relevant anymore. When Croatia became a country [in 1991] we no longer needed to be a political vehicle. We're a sporting organisation now. The old name served a purpose, and of course we're proud of our heritage. But we've had the new name for more than 20 years, and personally I think it's become a great brand. It doesn't change who we are, but we've moved on. We had to."

Truth is, the club which gave us a long line of Socceroos, including current skipper Mile Jedinak, remains as relevant as ever. Ditto South Melbourne, Adelaide City, APIA-Leichhardt, Sydney City, Canberra Olympic, Bayswater City, Glenorchy Knights, Broadmeadow Magic, Canberra FC and all the other "ethnic" clubs still fighting for their FFA Cup lives.

Ethnicity isn't a weakness of the game, it's a strength. After 60 years of internal warfare, you'd hope the protagonists have finally figured that out.