James McClean criticises FA and EFL over crowd abuse

Corcaigh_the_Cat said:
Has he done that?

He's refused to wear a poppy, nobody should be made to wear them, and he's defended a football team from Ireland singing a song which you'd hear many times a year over there, it was number 1 in the charts.
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I believe professional footballers playing at the highest level have a responsibility to be role models. McClean is entitled to his views however I don't believe he should be posting videos of himself singing pro-IRA songs in a car with his friends, posting a photograph of himself wearing a balaclava, and eulogiesing Bobby Sands (to some a Martyr, to others a terrorist) whilst he's earning his trade in England.

For all we know Lenihan may support the IRA but he has the sense not to make his political views clear whilst playing in this country.

I would equally disagree if an English player or a Northern Irish player was playing in the League of Ireland and eulogiesed Michael Stone for example.
 
I’m not a big fan of McLean he doesn’t do himself any favours and like Joey Barton likes to court publicity. I can however empathise with him re the poppy issue.The Paras carried out atrocities in his home town of Derry against catholics and that cannot be forgotten. During the troubles many IRA men were happy to draw the Queens pound in benefits and still kill the Brits so it was all a bit hypocritical. So many deaths on both sides for what? A war that neither side could win and both sides accepted stalemate in the end.
 
I did read McLeans letter to Wigan chairman Dave Whelan, where he explained very clearly his reasons for turning his back on the national anthem, refusing to wear a poppy , and I thought fair enough, that is a reasonable view and I respect that.
However, having seen Mr McLean goad the Sunderland fans after Wigan took the lead on Saturday, I would suggest he may have to remember his own words of wisdom , and
"let the people sing their songs "
 
Joebolton said:
I did read McLeans letter to Wigan chairman Dave Whelan, where he explained very clearly his reasons for turning his back on the national anthem, refusing to wear a poppy , and I thought fair enough, that is a reasonable view and I respect that.
However, having seen Mr McLean goad the Sunderland fans after Wigan took the lead on Saturday, I would suggest he may have to remember his own words of wisdom , and
"let the people sing their songs "
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He does have history for doing that.

 
Ravshoutsatbeck said:
My understanding is that he believes the British are colonisers/occupiers in his country of birth.

I think he has a right to believe that and express those opinions and others are able to disagree with him and express their opinions back at him in a measured way.

Shouting anti-catholic/Irish abuse is not acceptable.
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He doesn’t mind getting paid a good wage from a country he despises so much
 
Moreno said:
Yep but I don’t seem to recall him moaning about Scotland or Wales either
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I don't remember him moaning, just refusing to acknowledge the UK flag and anthem, and not wear the poppy.

Having said that, like most footballers I haven't listened to what he has to say.
 
Corcaigh_the_Cat said:
The anthem, flag and poppy aren't simply English, they're British, like us and as far as I know him, though he may now be an Irish passport holder.
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He probably is. He certainly represents the Irish national team.
In summary the country he earns his money isn’t his country
 
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