It comes with the territory as a professional footballer that fans of opposition clubs will give you a hard time. That could range from light-hearted banter to rather more heavyweight chants and abuse, which – while not condoned in any way – are incredibly hard to combat. How do you tell 20,000 people to stop singing a certain song?
In an ideal world, the targeted players would do their best to laugh it all off. But, of course, they’re human beings too: and it can be hard to let some abuse, particularly when it’s highly personal in nature, pass by. Then there’s a temptation to fight back, giving as good as you get. But such a stance can only service to incite or inflame the situation more.
When James McClean, the left winger who has played for a number of clubs in England and now Wrexham in Wales, refused to wear a poppy on his shirt to commemorate Remembrance Day, it set into motion a chain of events that have made him the most controversial in English football.
So much so, the EFL has even changed their rules so that the Irishman, when substituted, can leave the pitch by the shortest possible route to get to the tunnel quicker… minimising the risk of him interacting with away fans. Here’s a look at the chain of events that have made James McClean one of the most divisive figures in English football history.
Irish Eyes
It would be fair to say that McClean did not shy away from controversy even at a young age. Born and raised in Derry, McClean came through the ranks to play for Northern Ireland’s Under-21 team.
But then, when called up by the senior team, McClean declined the call-up: instead, he spoke of his desire to represent the Republic of Ireland instead. “I didn’t feel part of the squad,” he said about his time in the Northern Irish youth ranks.
And I think any Catholic player if they said they did, I’d probably call them a liar.
It’s hard to stand for that national anthem, and see all the flags, the sectarian flags and the chants as well.
Years before, to overcome such a sensitive and emotive issue, FIFA introduced a rule in which Irishmen could choose which of the national teams they wanted to represent, as long as they hadn’t already played for one or the other at senior level in a competitive game. So McClean was free to make to the switch to the Republic of Ireland, who he represented on more than 100 occasions.
Poppy Problem
James McClean explains why he chooses not to wear a poppy… once again. pic.twitter.com/SRf5AaAdcq
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) November 10, 2024
McClean started out his career in the Irish League with Institute and Derry City, before securing a move to Sunderland. This was when the disconnect between McClean and football fans, typically those of the opposition team, began to manifest itself. Every November, the Premier League and the EFL commemorates Remembrance Day, the annual celebration of those who have lost their lives serving in the Armed Forces.
Each club plays in a one-off shirt that weekend, which bears the poppy – the symbol of fallen soldiers – upon the chest and/or sleeve. These shirts are then typically sold in an auction, with the money raised handed to the Royal British Legion.
Troubles in Northern Ireland
Since his days at Sunderland, McClean has opted not to wear the poppy shirt of the club he is representing. The British Army played a divisive role in the Troubles in Northern Ireland; some believe they exacerbated the issues that unfolded. On the Creggan estate in Derry, where he was born and raised, six Irishmen were shot dead on Bloody Sunday.
McClean’s decision not to wear the poppy is not designed to antagonise; indeed, he has even spoken of his belief that if the poppy was to commemorate those who lost their lives in World War I and II – many of whom were Irish – then he would wear it.
However, he refuses to show his support for the Armed Forces in general; with particular reference to their presence in The Troubles. McClean insists it’s not part of some political or anti-British sentiment, which it is often construed as being… hence his tetchy relationship with football fans in the UK.
“People say I am being disrespectful but don’t ask why I choose not to wear it,” he has written. “It stands for all the conflicts that Britain has been involved in. Because of the history where I come from in Derry, I cannot wear something that represents that.”
Marmite Man
There are those who applaud McClean for his principled stance. But as you can imagine, there are many more who believe he is being disrespectful to the war dead by not wearing the poppy shirt each year. He is routinely booed – sometimes by the fans of his own club, and has received sectarian abuse and even death threats.
While playing for Sunderland in 2012, McClean was given permission to wear a shirt without a poppy on it over the Remembrance Day weekend. He auctioned it off and donated the funds raised to a children’s charity in Ireland. Although McClean is a divisive figure on the terraces all year round, the hate campaign towards him goes up a gear or two each November.
Abuse Toward McClean
As well as being the victim of verbal abuse, the Irishman has also had missiles thrown at him – including one game against Birmingham City in 2024, in which a cup of Bovril was thrown in his direction. Having been substituted, McClean had to adhere to a directive introduced by FIFA for the 2019/20 season, in which players must exit the pitch via the nearest touchline – in a bid to weed out timewasting.
This forced the Irishman to pass by the Birmingham fans at St Andrews. One threw the plastic cup at McClean, who caught it with one hand and pretended to drink from it. To eradicate such incidents happening in the future, representatives from the EFL, referees organisation PGMOL and McClean’s current club Wrexham met to discuss a solution.
In a leaked letter, it was revealed that “… when Mr McClean has to leave the field of play, for whatever reason, he will leave by the shortest route towards the tunnel. This will help to manage Mr McClean’s departure from the pitch without incident.”
McClean himself welcomed the decision.
It’s very hard to control thousands of idiots if you’re a steward or police if people wanna throw things, if people wanna shout abuse – not everybody can be controlled.
Common sense has prevailed, let’s say.
