Leon Balogun slams Rangers fans over Cyriel Dessers disrespect as he warns them ‘watch the language’
Leon Balogun has hit out at Rangers fans for their abuse of Cyriel Dessers.
The veteran Light Blues defender didn't hold back as he launched a passionate defence of his team-mates and in particular Dessers. His Ibrox and Nigeria colleague has had a rocky relationship with the Ibrox support with supporters quick to get on his back when things aren't going well or big chances are spurned.
Some Rangers fans booed Dessers ON when he was introduced during the recent Scottish Premiership wins over St Johnstone and Aberdeen. But close pal and Rangers team-mate Balogun can't understand the viewpoint as the fans would want that same player to actually score or defend better while on the pitch.
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He's happy for criticism to be aimed at professionals, but the language used can cross the line. He shared a story from facing Aberdeen when he joined team-mate Nico Raskin and delivered a message to the fans.
Asked on the Counter Attack Podcast how difficult it is when the fans start getting on the back of a player and you witness it, he explained: "It is, but it shouldn't be. Not to that extent. We’ve had it here in the past when a player comes on and gets booed or a player comes off and gets clapped off but in a sarcastic type of way.
“I don’t condone that at all because it’s the same player that you would actually want to score or defend better. You can criticise them heavily, but watch the language. It is extremely disrespectful.
“Now I know that some fans would say his performance was disrespectful but if you see the effort (they put in) then you can’t put that on disrespect because he has tried his best. All you can do, is all you can do, right? You can criticise his quality, fair enough, but it’s always about how you do things in life and certain things are off limits for me, so that’s poor. I’ve witnessed it - not against me personally - but it’s always tough.”
The host then names Dessers as an example and admits from the outside looking in he is a really good player and expressed his surprise at the reaction from the crowd after he was introduced from the bench. He did give them credit for switching instantly after he scored.
Asking Balogun for his reaction while on the pitch, he said: “I remember when it happened because it was a corner, I think.
"And me and Nico Raskin, we were straight (over) because we thought that it actually came, I'm not going to say it was the Union Bears, because I don't know who it was.
“It came from that stand, that section kind of, just behind the opposition's goal [Aberdeen]. Me and Nico were straight over saying ‘what's going on? Like, no, don't do that’.
“That was our reaction on the pitch. I don't know how much it helped, but again, I understand both sides. I try to understand both sides because yes, you are frustrated about certain things with whether it's Cyriel or another player. That's your right.
“But can you maybe think about the way you express it? And again, he's on the pitch now. I think it was still 1-0. Ultimately, you want him to score. So there was a time where he played week in, week out. And maybe these things happen when he was subbed off or something. And then I'm thinking to myself, okay, you're not happy with him.
"Fair enough. Because there were also reasons for it. And that's okay, cool. That's football, right? But at the same time, if you know he will start again, what can you do in order to then make sure he feels better about himself?
“Again, this is not to criticise all the fans, but it's just like one thought I'm trying to put out there because let's even just take another player. If it's anyone else and you know he's gonna play again, you want him to perform for you. So you cannot make him feel like you don't want him at all. Make it work for the time being at least."
