Mcclean hits out at lack of support over sectarianism
JAMES Mcclean has questioned why Irish team-mates have not publicly supported him in the same way they have thrown their weight behind the Black Lives Matter campaign.
The Derryman raised the point in a personal Facebook post where he strongly condemned the racist social media abuse directed at his international colleague David Mcgoldrick and Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha, but again asked why anti-irish comments aimed in his direction have not received comparable scrutiny.
Mcclean’s stance on not wearing a poppy has made him a target for fans both in stadiums and online.
He did receive support from equality group ‘Kick It Out’ and the English FA earlier this year, having previously called them out for ignoring his plight.
Barnsley were charged for sectarian abuse aimed at him by their fans. Mcclean was regularly booed during a game and was also targeted with chants about the Pope and the IRA.
However, in the aftermath of the arrest of a 12-year-old boy for comments sent to Zaha and an attempt to identify a person who posted vile messages to Mcgoldrick, Mcclean asked why there wasn’t the same eagerness to track down those responsible for material sent his way.
The Stoke player was prompted to post after hearing a radio debate on Zaha and Mcgoldrick, stating it was horrendous and nobody should be subjected to it.
But he added what left a sour taste was that he had “received more abuse than any other player during my nine years in England, whether 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?”
He added: “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?”
Mcclean has not worn a poppy during his many years in English football, citing the actions of the British Army in his native city on Bloody Sunday.
He has regularly been targeted with abuse by football fans for the decision and has received death threats in the past.
Speaking in 2018, the Republic of Ireland international defended his decision not to wear the poppy.
“I know many people won’t agree with my decision or even attempt to gain an understanding of why I don’t wear a poppy,” he said in a statement released through Stoke City.
“I accept that but I would ask people to be respectful of the choice I have made, just as I’m respectful of people who do choose to wear a poppy.”
In January, Stoke City boss Michael O’neill hit out after a match was stopped when Huddersfield Town fans launched sectarian abuse at Mcclean.
The former Northern Ireland manager insisted those responsible need to be punished.