JAMES McCLEAN has responded to comments made by media pundit Graeme Souness in regards to the Ireland player's stance on wearing the poppy.
Derry native McClean has chosen on more than one occasion not to wear a Rememberance Day poppy on his jersey
The poppy is a symbol aimed at Remember the soldiers that lost their lives in WWI and WWII victims, but the Irishman's view on Bloody Sunday means that he's opted against wearing one
In his native Derry in 1972, 13 unarmed civilians were killed and at least 15 others were injured on a day known as ‘Bloody Sunday’. This happened during a protest march in the Bogside area of Derry,
McClean's stance not to wear the poppy for his own reasons has angered a huge number of people in England. His family have received abuse for years for the decision not to partake in the poppy gesture.
WIGAN, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 08: James McClean of Wigan Athletic l (Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images)McClean's instagram message
Posting a lengty message on Instagram last month, the Ireland winger said: “For my son, who is seven years old and watches every Wigan game… to be asking his mother, ‘why are they booing and singing that song at Daddy?’ And to have to tip toe around answering him is something which should not be happening.
“This post is not one for sympathy [trust me, it is not wanted] but one of anger. Considering every single year we have an FA representative come into each club to discuss the same old crap they spew to us about discrimination. Every single year, I challenge them on the abuse. Every single year, they do nothing.
“This clip is one [from] yesterday, which can be heard clearly of one particular chant, as well as other chants of ‘f*** the pope and IRA’, being sung by the majority of the 30k crowd, as well as numerous individual chants of ‘fenian b******, fenian c***’, ‘you dirty Irish c***’.
“[This was] while displaying a tribute before game honouring Niall Quinn, who is also the same nationality as myself. Couldn’t make the stupidity up.
“Now, everyone who attended the game would have heard this loud and clear including the referee, match officials and other officials! I should not have to report every single incident when clearly they can all hear what I hear, and they should be doing their job by taking action!
“I would be lying if I was to say I expect anything to be done about this by the FA and EFL [history shows this] but here is another chance sure. And I certainly don’t expect any action to be taken by Sunderland themselves, given they did nothing when I was their player.”
Graham Souness 'get on with it comments'
McClean was booed again playing for Wigan's in last saturday's 2-2 draw against Swansea.
During the week TalkSPORT's Graeme Souness who played for Rangers and Scotland was asked about the abuse McClean has had to endure and responded by saying that he 'would have to get on with it'
"We live in a democracy. If he’s being booed at a football game, or things are being sung about him, that’s not nice," said the former Liverpool player
“It’s not nice for his wife or his kid, it is totally wrong that him and his family are being threatened.
“That’s abhorent. But it will just be keyboard warriors and village idiots.
“But you also have to understand that 10,000 Irish soldiers lost their lives in the Second World War – and I think it’s right we remember them.
“You know what side of the fence I’m on. I managed a Protestant institution in Glasgow Rangers and we were royalists.
The pundit also added that McClean would have to take the abuse on the chin
“Going back a month, there was a small element at several football grounds up and down the country that rejoiced in the death of our Queen. That’s unacceptable.
“There is nothing the FA can do about that, but that happened. So James has to get on with it.
“It is very much his right to choose to go down that road, but I’m afraid this will not go away for him.
“It will be an annual thing he has to take on the chin because he has chosen to go down that road.”
Wigan forward James McClean didn't appreciate Graeme Souness' assessment and politely let him knowhttps://t.co/OeeeJFPgDy
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) November 8, 2022
McClean responds to Souness' 'get on with it comments'
The Irish winger was listening to the Scot's comments and sent a message to Jim White, one of the other pundits in the studio at the time.
"Jim, can you tell Mr Souness with regards to his ‘get on with it’ advice? I got on with it for a very long time until it became not just me but my family," said the Ireland player
“It is one thing taking abuse, but when your family gets involved, it means a totally different thing.
“I would suggest if he’s not in a position to talk about it as I am, then he doesn’t appreciate the level of abuse I have to endure.”
Souness responds again
However, Souness backed up his stance by doubling down it
“I accept that,” Souness responded. “Once it impacts on your family, it must be very difficult. But this is something he has to deal with.
“This was his choice. Maybe he should go back to when he first made this stance, maybe someone said, ‘This will not just be about you going forward’. And that is the case.”
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