Leon Balogun 'frightened' as Rangers star insists rising levels of player abuse is down to lack of fan fear

Leon Balogun blames social media for "lowering the threshold" of what fans deem acceptable behaviour within stadiums with abuse of players on the rise.

The Rangers defender feels that increased access to the "real" him for fans on social media has led to a small section becoming emboldened when it comes to verbal and physical abuse. It comes after FIFPRO released their Workplace Safety Report, which revealed that 66 per cent of player unions felt that parts of fan culture has become more violent and abusive.

Balogun referenced the age old "I've paid my money" attitude that leads to a sense of entitlement in some supporters, and he has called for a code of conduct to be established to limit the escalating issues that he admits does have an effect on players. Balogun had previously called on police to get involved after Nigeria teammate Alex Iwobi was a target for fans during their AFCON final defeat to Ivory Coast.

Speaking on X, the Ibrox star said: "I have this feeling that this constant access to the real me as a player has lowered the threshold for fans in the stadium to a point where some think they are entitled to do things which they really aren't.

"Some people, not the majority, feel because they have paid for a ticket to come to the stadium that it somehow automatically gives them the right to abuse you. There are people who just want to voice their frustration at you in a very inappropriate way.

"It has developed over the last 16 years since I've been a professional. It has taken a turn for the worse with the introduction and rise of social media. There has always been a culture in football amongst a small group of supporters that had a tendency for violence. But what players and managers are exposed to in