Barry Johnston believes Conor McMenamin and Kyle Lafferty deserve to move on with their careers after both players ended up in separate social media video storms last week.
Kilmarnock striker Lafferty is facing a potential 10-game ban over alleged use of sectarian language in a video which was circulated online.
McMenamin was temporarily axed from Northern Ireland's Nations League squad after an historical video resurfaced appearing to show the Glentoran winger allegedly singing a pro-IRA chant.
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The former Linfield and Cliftonville ace was later reinstated with the Irish FA taking no further action.
Meanwhile, Kilmarnock have hit Lafferty with a "substantial fine" and say the striker has voiced his regret over the video which contributed to him being sent home from international duty. The Scottish club also said the 35-year-old will engage with anti-sectarian charity Nil By Mouth "on a one-to-one basis".
Former Irish League midfielder Johnston says "everyone makes mistakes" and believes the pair deserve to be forgiven.
Reflecting on McMenamin's historical video, Johnston told Belfast Live's That's What I Call Football podcast: "I did a million things when I was a kid, and if they had been caught on camera I'd never have kicked a ball in the Irish League.
"Obviously you grow up, you have kids, you move house and into a new community which is a bit more inclusive from what you were brought up in.
"You're not just channeled into that one wee area where everyone else's beliefs are the same as yours.
"You go to school, university, play for different football teams and you meet different characters and your whole outlook changes.
"So I think it is very harsh to label someone for something they did seven years ago."
Johnston also believes Northern Ireland striker Lafferty will have regretted reacting when a man posing for a photo with him said “Up the Celts”.
The Lisburn Distillery manager added: "I am a die-hard Celtic fan. The kid went up intentionally to wind him up, and Kyle bit. He maybe had a few drinks in him and when he said it he probably thought 'oh s***'..
"It has probably cost him his Northern Ireland career.
"If someone called me that, it wouldn't be the worst thing someone has called me in my life, and I wouldn't really take offence to it. But maybe I am old school.
"I have been brought up around it so it doesn't annoy me, but nowadays people get offended way too easily.
"I understand people want it eradicated completely out of society, but it won't happen. Kids are brought up in different estates and their parents want their kids brought up that way which is completely wrong.
"It is a real problem in this country, and some athletes have been caught up in it. And in football it is divisive, where you have both sides of the community taking different sides.
"The Irish FA have tried to address it over the last 15-20 years. There is very little sectarianism at Northern Ireland games. If there is it is a small minority, and the IFA have been brilliant in addressing it.
"Kyle's reaction is what it is and I am sure he regrets it. He won't want his career to finish like that.
"And Conor did something seven years ago which should never affect what is happening now."
Johnston added: "You can cast up a lot of things about a lot of people. Even our politicians have done things in the past and are still working away.
"It will never be fully eradicated here. There will be certain sections who will be like that.
"Conor came on against Greece so hopefully that's that done. And hopefully Kyle is forgiven for it over time."
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