Celtic boss Neil Lennon has offered his support to James McClean and urged the police to deal with sickening abuse directed at the Ireland international.
McClean took to social media earlier this week to discuss he abuse he's received with his wife sharing details of some of the threats he's received.
One told him he was going to burn his house down while threatening his family and it's led to an outpouring of support from his own club Stoke, the Irish national team and many team-mates.
And Lennon admits it's a difficult place to be having got death threats himself as a player and urged those around him to offer him plenty of support.
The Celtic manager branded social media a 'poison' as he opened up on the abuse players and managers receive on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
And he said: "I saw on Sky news today the pressure that football is putting on these social media platforms.
"It should have been done a long time ago. These social media platforms don’t display any accountability or look after the people who are on the end of this constant abuse, whether it be racial, whether it be sectarian, whether it be personal or social.
"It’s a real poison in modern day society. It’s more prevalent in football because it’s more public and out there but it’s disgusting. I’m sick and fed up of talking about it now because nothing gets done.
"It’s time people were named, shamed and dealt with by the police or the courts.
"It’s just totally unacceptable. It’s almost as if it’s alright to do it now. Your own personal thoughts can be put out on a public platform, maybe you’ve had a few drinks and you don’t mean it but you’ve no regards for the recipient and I’m seeing it a lot in English football now. It’s got to come to a head.
"I’m glad the associations are making this really relevant now. It’s been too long, it’s been going on for far too long.
"How would you do your job if people were threatening you and your family? It would be so difficult and then this kid has to go out and play professional football.
"People will say he’s well paid for it, he’s not well paid to take abuse from all and sundry for his background, his religion or his family. I’m in a press conference here, you put yourself in his shoes, people threatening to burn his house, threaten his family constantly on a daily basis, you’d be looking over your shoulder every five minutes.
"I’ve been through it myself and it’s a lonely place. I hope he gets the right support. It’s alright people putting out nice statements saying we’re going to support him, do it. Show it.
"Associations, clubs, show it. It’s not just James, it’s all these kids getting racially abused in England as well, the young lad Dhanda at Swansea, it’s absolutely scandalous now."
