BRENDAN Rodgers last night called for legislation to be introduced which would offer more protection to footballers who are being abused in public.

Celtic's Scott Sinclair was verbally abused by three men as he waited on Sunday, hours after the Old Firm game, in a BA Lounge in Glasgow airport.

And Rangers defender Russell Martin was filmed by the perpetrators while having sectarian abuse hurled at him when shopping in Glasgow.

Rodgers said: "It is poor that sort of thing still happens, in a private lounge at the airport as well.

“I spoke to Scott about it and he’s okay. It’s not a nice thing to have to deal with. You are a footballer on the pitch but you are also a human being as well.

“That doesn’t entitle people to come up and think they can have a go at you. I’ve felt for a long time something should be done about it.

“You saw it the other week with Eddie Jones. Russell Martin as well. There’s no excuse, but I’ve had it myself when I’ve been goaded. You can be on a train and someone is being smart the whole journey.

People wonder why you are a bit cold with people, bt you have to be wary in this day and age, with social media and everything that goes with it. People try to extract something out of you.

“I feel there should be something done, there’s no way people should get away with it.

“Just because you are a player or a manager or someone in the public eye?

“We all have responsibilities, we have to be role models, which is important. But there has to be a level of respect going the other way was well.

“I only hope something can be done to legislate so it doesn’t keep happening.”

Rodgers was set to be interviewed by Jamie Carragher, a former player of his from their Liverpool days. only for the show to be cancelled when the Sky pundit was filmed spitting out of his car t a Manchester United supporter who was verbally abusing him while his 14-year-old was in the back seat.

Rodgers said: "I was on my way to London when I got the message saying the show had to be cancelled. Listen, he wouldn’t want anyone to defend him for his actions, that’s not right.

“I know Jamie well enough to know there will be no one more remorseful than him.

“Look at Jamie’s situation, there’s a guy who is driving and endangering the life of his daughter. It’s absolutely nonsense."