Leon Balogun has retaliated against Rangers fans for their use of language at Ibrox, following persistent criticism of Cyriel Dessers.
The 30-year-old striker, who is highly connected with a move this summer, has been pursued by the supporters since his arrival, not for his attitude, but for his lack of skill on the field.
Despite scoring 22 goals in his first season, the Ibrox crowd and the media are condemning the forward, who may soon leave Scotland.
Balogun stated on the Counter Attack podcast [20 January]: “We’ve had that here in the past when a player comes on and is booed or when a guy comes off and is clapped off in a mocking way.
“I don’t agree with that since it’s the same player you want to score or defend better. You can be harshly critical of them, but be careful with your terminology. It’s incredibly disrespectful.
“Some fans would think their performance was disrespectful, but when you see the effort [they put in], you can’t blame it on disrespect since he did his best. This is all you can do.
“You can criticize his [Dessers’] quality, but it’s all about how you do things in life, and some things are off-limits for me, so that’s bad. He’s a fantastic person. I honestly believe he has some big balls on him because of how he handled his circumstance.
Is Cyriel Dessers due more respect at Rangers?
It’s a difficult one, for sure. Fans deserve to be heard, especially given the club’s current condition and the fact that they have spent their hard-earned money on tickets and travel.
However, many supporters continue to overlook that footballers are just like everyone else, striving to put on a show for the fans while still earning a living and, ultimately, helping their families prosper outside of football.
A lot of the criticism directed at Dessers is justified given his continual missed opportunities, but a small minority is going to take it too far in front of susceptible fans.
Similar occurrences occur at stadiums across the country. It won’t be any different at Ibrox, but Balogun is perfectly entitled to express his concerns.
The players’ families and children are most likely in the audiences, and with many stars being slammed by fans this season, there is reason to be concerned about their safety.
