James McClean hits out at the own lack of support following Wilfried Zaha and David McGoldrick abuse this took place at the weekend.
The Stoke player has been left frustrated after watching the huge amounts of support that the two Premier League players have received.
He aimed his anger at football’s players, authorities and the media for not getting the same level of support, which has left him with a sour taste.
We stand with James McClean.
Proud of his country. Proud of his people. pic.twitter.com/qTE00dCA5x
— Irish Unity (@IrishUnity) July 13, 2020
The 31-year-old Republic of Ireland winger refuses to wear the poppy throughout his near-decade stint playing in England for such teams like Sunderland, Wigan, West Brom and Stoke.
He chooses not to do so because he is from Derry, the place where British soldiers shot unarmed civilians during a peaceful protest march in 1972.
McClean has said he would wear the poppy if it was just to honour those who lost their lives in the World Wars, as well as insisting his stance is not political and rather one of peace.
However, it’s almost every game he plays that he gets booed by opposition fans and has even faced death threats and a torrent of abuse from those in the stands and on social media.
He received criticism from Middlesbrough fans in 2018, which after the game led him to say on Instagram: “They have nothing in their whole imperial arsenal that can break the spirit of one Irishman who doesn’t want to be broken.” Your abuse, your throwing things, your booing, do your worst.. to the home fans that are actually educated and support me, thank yous.. to the section of uneducated cavemen in left hand corner of the boothen end stand that want to song their anti irish song each game and call me a fenian this and that.. i am a PROUD FENIAN no c@#t will ever change that, so sing away”.
Just look at the intolerance and hatred on display all because James McClean refuses to wear a poppy. pic.twitter.com/SP8THxKWh8
— Crimes of Britain (@crimesofbrits) November 3, 2018
Fast forward back to today, where the abuse he receives continues, and while McClean says the “horrendous” abuse was correctly condemned, he went on to discuss the public response to the abuse he regularly receives.
“Driving back from training today while listening to talkSport discussing the vile racist comments this weekend made towards Zaha and McGoldrick on social media, listening to their reaction of disgust at it and rightly so for that matter because it is horrendous and nobody should be subjected to that and people need to be held responsible for their words and actions.
“What leaves a sour taste tho [sic] in my mouth and not only this but with everything else of late, I receive have received more abuse than [any] other player during my 9 years in England wether [sic] that be, death threats, bullets sent in the post, birthday cards, letters etc! This is not a cry for sympathy but one to ask the question what is the difference?
“12-year-old boys get arrested for posting racial abuse online to Zaha again rightly so, has anyone ever been held accountable for mines? No!
“Have I ever had any abuse condemned by the media? (Sky Sports, talkSport, newspapers) No! In fact quite the opposite, the slightest thing that I do that might cause offence to any one is highlighted by them.
“I have seen some of my fellow Irish team mates post a black square in support of anti racism as well as post condemning the discrimination and AGAIN rightly so!
“Have I ever seen any of them ever post a public condemnation of the discrimination I get which funnily enough is a discrimination against them also? That would be a no!
“Does one kind of discrimination hold a higher bearing over another act of discrimination?
“I would say am confused but that’s the wrong word because confused means not fully understanding something, in this case it’s quite clear!
“If you don’t stand for something you will fall for anything.”
All Premier League clubs have showed their support for Black Lives Matter since the 2019/20 league season resumed after the coronavirus pandemic halted the football schedule in March.
We have seen on our TV screens the players, staffs and officials taking the knee, a gesture to acknowledge anti-racism after George Floyd was murdered by a police officer in America, who knelt on his neck.
Of course, they are a huge reaction from social media users as James McClean hits out at the own lack of support following Zaha and McGoldrick abuse…
The guy who wears balaclavas and teaches his kids to glorify the terrorist actions of the IRA, is now looking to play the victim card? You can only laugh at people like him, if he had any sense he’d be dangerous
— G (@garryhood1872) July 13, 2020
So getting death threats and bullets sent to your door is part of every day rival fan abuse?
— ?? Papi Chulo ?? (@killian_heavey) July 13, 2020
James actually refused to wear a symbol synonymous with the crown forces that had terrorised his community for decades, he also chose not to honour the head of that army and power to him for it, we are all James McLean whilst this is acceptable in ‘modern Britain’
— JB1916 (@Greenasterix) July 13, 2020
— Jack Gillis (@jagillis11) July 13, 2020
Spot on James. Because he chooses not to wear a poppy which isn’t mandatory to begin with is no reason for the abuse he gets. The tans are quick to forget that Callum Wilson, one of their own, as well as Matic didn’t wear one not too long ago…
— Chris O’Brien (@ChrisOBrien83) July 14, 2020
My grandparents are from Dublin and my mum remembers growing up in the 60’s and the shops saying no blacks NOR Irish need apply. And that’s not that long ago so what’s the difference between his point and racism. Still discrimination.
— Juanpablo (@juanpaulb) July 13, 2020
He had his reasons and valid reason for not wearing a poppy. And the people giving him abuse are the same people that say “Churchill fought for our freedom and freedom of speech” then abuse McLean demonstrating his freedom of speech of why he doesn’t want to wear one
— chris roberts (@chris_roberts96) July 13, 2020
Well said! If mcclean was black this would be escalated and made more public. The videos of abuse he gets because he chooses the right not to wear the poppy is disgraceful.
— marty corden (@martycorden) July 13, 2020
Dear God, some of the replies in this thread. Demanding or insisting that someone wears an emblem they are deeply uncomfortable with & abusing them for not doing so, is the antithesis of honouring freedoms won. Racial abuse is disgusting, as is the abuse suffered by James McClean
— MD (@capallfada) July 13, 2020
Well said James McClean ????. About time you receive the same support from the FA for the threats you receive pretty much on a daily basis.
— Edward Lynch (@SmallEd7) July 13, 2020
There is absolutely no excuse for some of the things that have happened to him but to be honest he doesn’t help himself sometimes and invites a lot of it with the things he says and some of his behaviour.
— Adrian Foster (@AFost79) July 13, 2020
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