PREMIER ACE WHO REFUSED POPPY MOURNS ‘HERO’ McGUINNESS
FANS reacted angrily last night after Republic of Ireland international and West Bromwich Albion star James McClean praised former IRA commander Martin McGuinness as a “hero”.
McClean was born in the ex-deputy first minister’s native Derry, or Londonderry.
He posted on social media: “You will be sorely missed Martin, a great leader, a great hero and above all a great man.”
He said he looked up to the former Sinn Fein leader as: “A man that has done so much for Irish people and Irish people’s freedom right to the very end.”
He added: “He was also a good friend and someone I had the pleasure of having a good relationship with.
“A man I met so many times, had the privilege to share many a great conversation with, a man that always text me before games wishing me luck.
“A man that through the well-documented tough times off the field always let me know how brave I was standing by my beliefs, that I never was alone because I had his support and backing always.”
But fan Sam Clarke tweeted: “James McClean is an enormous prick.”
And @safcking posted: “Praising that scum McGuinness as a hero? Is that boy for real? Kick him out WBA. He’s disgusting.”
But other fans praised McClean for “sticking to his priciples”.
The Irishman has courted controversy on several occasions in the past. He refused to wear a poppy on his shirt when he played for Sunderland in November 2012.
McClean has claimed he was vilified by Sunderland’s fans over his stance.
In 2015 he, appeared to turn his back on the British national anthem during a West Brom pre-season friendly in the States.
Having played seven times for Northern Ireland at under-21 level, McClean, an Irish Catholic, also caused controversy in 2011 when he committed to the Republic.