Sport

Irish player James McClean condemns 'cowards' who threw bottles and coins at him mid-match

THE Irish and West Brom player took to social media to call out the fans who were firing paraphenalia his way whilst he played in a match on Saturday.

James McClean has spoken out about the abuse he was subjected to during a Premier League match on Saturday the 4th November.

The footballer has claimed that many spectators flinged bottles, lighters, coins among other things during the game, which he claims is because of his choice to forgo wearing a red poppy for Remembrance Day.

The Derry man took to Twitter to call out Match of the Day cameras for missing the moments he was attacked by the crowd: "Convenient how match of the day cameras pick up my tackle. But fail to pick up bottles, coins and lighters been throwing in same incident."

Convenient how match of the day cameras pick up my tackle, But fail to pick up bottles, coins and lighters been throwing in same incident ?

— James McClean (@JamesMcC_14) November 4, 2017

The Republic of Ireland player has garnered criticism from football fans in the past for refusing to wear a football kit bearing the red poppy, which commemorates British people who have died while fighting for their country. Many argue that since the player was born in Derry and played for Northern Ireland at a minor level, he should not play for the Republic of Ireland side.

The player continued to express his annoyance on Instagram, deeming the behaviour of the crowds "frustrating".

Frustrating is the best word to describe today.. p.s launching bottles and other objects from up in the stands make you cowards not hard men ??

A post shared by Jimmymac_11 (@jimmymac_11) on Nov 4, 2017 at 1:46pm PDT

Last year, Sky News representative Raheem Kassam was interrogated while trying to make a news report by anchorman Dermot Murnaghan, whose behaviour left many people aghast considering it was a live broadcast.

I can't believe I've just watched this exchange which apparently went out on national television. https://t.co/HdGbMd5F1x

— Jonathan Fisher (@fishplums) November 14, 2016

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