Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp has admitted that he is “sick and tired” of players having to accept abuse from fans.
The 64-year-old has been speaking ahead of Spurs’ clash against bitter rivals Arsenal this weekend, where former Gunner Emmanuel Adebayor is expected to receive some jeers from the away supporters.
"Emmanuel Adebayor is certain to get stick from Arsenal fans on Sunday at White Hart Lane," he told The Sun. "But the level of abuse and the nature of it is something that concerns me.
“Not just in this one game but with the viciousness with which some fans behave these days and consider it acceptable because football is 'passionate'. What cobblers."
The former Portsmouth manager went on to say that footballers shouldn’t be “condemned” so quickly when they react to abuse from fans.
"I get sick and tired of hearing that professional footballers must be exactly that and simply take the abuse they get in the name of 'the game' and that when they snap as human beings and react they are instantly condemned."
The two London rivals go head to head in the Premier League at White Hart Lane this Sunday.