I can’t condone what Jamie did but people see sports stars as fair game ... it’s just not right
HIBS NEIL ON LIFE IN THE SPOTLIGHT Lennon: You become paranoid and have to watch everything you do
NEIL LENNON has urged Sky bosses to give shamed Jamie Carragher a second chance after revealing the extent of sickening abuse footballers are subjected to.
The Hibs boss knows Carragher through previous stints summarising for the broadcast giants.
But more importantly he knows better than most how far random strangers will go to push high-profile figures to the limit of their patience with shocking provocation designed to spark a reaction for their camera phones.
Carragher didn’t have to put up with anything as serious as death threats, bombs and bullets in the post and a vicious street assault that left Lennon bloodied during his time at Celtic.
And his reaction was unquestionably disgraceful – recorded spitting at a passing driver and his 14-year-old daughter in the passenger seat, prompting Sky to suspend him.
But Lennon hopes the former Liverpool star, who made a public apology for his conduct, will be given a reprieve as he shone a light on the level of abuse prominent sporting figures have to put up with on a weekly basis.
The Easter Road gaffer said: “First of all, it was totally out of character. I am not condoning what Jamie has done but everyone deserves a second chance and I do have a tad of sympathy for him.
“It’s a split-second really bad decision he has made. In this day and age there is an unfair balance towards people in the public eye because other people can get away with stuff like that.
“Cricketer Andy Flintoff was talking about an incident that happened to him in Dublin when a guy came up to him, started talking and tried to sling a punch at him.
“He had to hold him to the ground and he couldn’t do anything just in case someone was filming it. “Anybody in any other walk of life would have defended themselves. Everybody says you are role models. I get that but they are human beings as well. “A lot of people see you as fair game and it’s not right. “I have talked to Graeme Souness about it. He went through the same thing when he was managing Rangers.
“The result is you become wary of every contact with members of the public. You become paranoid and that’s totally unfair.
“But you can’t react the way Jamie did, I can’t condone that. However, I don’t believe it should cost him his job or his career.”
Lennon too will be hoping for some understanding from the powers that be today when he reports to Hampden for an SFA disciplinary hearing for two misconduct charges.
The Hibees gaffer was sent to the stand during a stormy 2-2 draw with Kilmarnock last month for launching a verbal tirade at ref Kevin Clancy.
Lennon followed that up in his post-match press conference with a blistering attack.
He said: “We will go along and put our case across and see how we get on.”