Stoke boss O’Neill calls for chants to be kept McClean
MICHAEL O’NEILL believes West Brom’s supporters will not taunt James McClean – and has called for fans to self-police any sectarian abuse.
The Stoke City boss
(right) thinks the Baggies’ faithful will be respectful of their former player when the sides meet tomorrow night as the winger has become the target of unsavoury chants in recent weeks.
McClean, 30 (below) grew up in a strongly Republican area of Derry in Northern Ireland and there have been incidents at both Barnsley and Huddersfield – with the tannoy warning the crowd about “offensive behaviour” directed towards the player at the
John Smith’s Stadium.
And ahead of what is traditionally a spiky affair, Ulsterman O’Neill has called for calm.
He said: “For some reason, James McClean is a symbol of this type of chanting. It’s unnecessary.
It’s unfair on him, it’s unfair on his family if they are ever at games and it’s not pleasant.
“If the authorities have to assist, that will be the case but I still look at people and think if someone behaves like that can you not turn around and say, ‘What are you doing?’
“It’s the same as shouting racist remarks. It is racist, this behaviour. I grew up in a society with sectarianism so I know full well what that’s like.
“I think James will show people at West Brom that he’s still a top player. “I think in the period he was there he was very good for them so I think they will hopefully recognise that as well. “I don’t envisage that there will be any issues.”