The abuse footballers are subjected to from the terraces is so severe that it is now a human rights issue, according to England centre back Sol Campbell.

Campbell today demanded action from the FA to curb the taunts from opposition fans and rejected claims that well-paid players should just take the abuse.

The Portsmouth captain said the FA has "buried its head in the sand" on the issue, which requires tougher sanctions.

"If this happened on the street, you would be arrested. This is the 21st century and this is a human rights situation where sportsmen and managers are trying to do their job professionally and people are abusing them verbally. It has gone too far," he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.

Throwing individuals out of grounds would help, he said, but wider action was needed as thousands of fans were still directing foul language at players.

"You look at the clubs and ask them to control their fans, or fines or anything. You have to do it in another way."

Campbell, who said he planned to meet the FA, said: "They have let us down because they have allowed this to continue, sat idle, head in the sand, and tried to brush it under the carpet."

"People say you've got to be immune to this... but I am playing football, I should not be subjected to that kind of abuse, it's out of order now.

"People are letting this go by and not saying anything about it in the papers, the clubs are doing nothing about it."

The player, still a hate figure among some Tottenham fans over his 2001 departure to bitter rivals Arsenal, spoke out after facing hostility from them during Saturday's Premiership clash.

"I know some people may be a little bit disgruntled about the way I left certain clubs or club. I totally understand that.

"But when you get to that level of verbal abuse... it's got to stop."