In the end it was all too much for Tobias Levels. The Fortuna Düsseldorf defender had been mercilessly whistled by his own fans for the last 15 minutes of the home game against 1860 Munich and, as he sat on the substitutes bench after the final whistle, he started to cry. A proud man and a good professional, he had been reduced to an emotional wreck by his own supporters. His crime? A mistake in the 75th minute that had led to the visitors taking the lead.

It has happened before, of course, with Ashley Cole being targeted by England fans at Wembley and Emmanuel Eboué feeling the wrath of Arsenal supporters against Wigan in 2008. The latter was reportedly in tears in the dressing room afterwards, the poisonous atmosphere and the cheering when he was substituted – having come on as a substitute himself in the 32nd minute – finally breaking him.

Cole said recently that he managed to block out the jeers but noted that football had become a crueller place since he made his debut for Arsenal in 2000. "I'd say it's changed from when I first started out as a player but what can you do? There are more opinions in football today," he told Green Soccer Journal this summer.

The world, in fact, seems an angrier place than it did 10 years ago. Social media – and comments on websites – appears to have opened up a whole new avenue for people to vent their bile. Anonymity is a great enabler when it comes to abusing someone and in football stadiums supporters can often feel anonymous because of the masses that surround them at games.

And that is what happened on Friday night when Levels was targeted by the Fortuna Düsseldorf fans. There were more than 34,000 people at the Esprit-Arena, the majority of them already incensed by a mistake by the defender had made against fourth-division side Wiedenbrück in the German Cup the week before.

The main problem for Levels, however, is probably his background. He has never been properly accepted by the Fortuna faithful because of his past with local rivals Borussia Mönchengladbach. He joined Gladbach as a 13-year-old and made his first-team debut six years later. He was soon made captain of the team he had supported all his life and once said "my heart is the shape of a diamond", referring to Borussia Mönchengladbach's badge. When asked whether he could join another local rival, FC Cologne, he said: "No. I am too much Gladbacher."

Sadly for Levels, the love affair was ended – by Mönchengladbach. In 2011 he had no option but to leave his first club and, later that summer, he joined Fortuna Düsseldorf. Fortuna are not in the same league as Gladbach – they play in the second Bundesliga – but Levels did not help himself with honest but perhaps not well thought-through comments a few months into his Fortuna career. "I have already given my heart to one club and was bitterly let down. I am not making that mistake again.

That, in turn, led to the Fortuna fans not taking the player to their hearts. Understandable, perhaps, but there is a long way to go from there to the abuse the player received online after his cup mistake and in the stadium after his error led to 1860 Munich's winner.

If it had been any other player, the abuse would not have been as vile. "It is a witch-hunt and it has to stop," said the Fortuna manager, Mike Büskens. The club's sporting director, Wolf Werner, added: "No one deserves to be treated like that by their own people."

Levels himself did not say much. "It hurts, of course it does. But I will grow from it," was all he offered. And perhaps he will become a stronger person and a better player because of the ordeal. In fact, he may even become a fans' favourite.

For, on Friday night, after the shouts of "Levels raus" [Levels out] and the tears, something extraordinary happened. As Fortuna's hardcore fans realised that the defender had broken down in tears, they started to chant his name. At first Levels did not move but then he slowly made his way towards the far side, where the supporters were singing his name. At first he did not dare to look up but in the end he offered a wave to those who were supporting him and even tapped the club badge.

From loathing to love in 60 seconds. Levels will never forget that night and neither will anyone else who was there. Hopefully, though, the incident will remind a few people that they are not just abusing a footballer when they throw their bile from the stands, but a human being as well.