Controversial Wrexham star James McClean has branded a Birmingham City fan a “stinking, greasy gammon” after the defender caught a cup of Bovril thrown at him during Monday’s heated League One clash.
The 35-year-old also referenced an infamous quote in another Instagram post about the match, previously made by IRA fighter Bobby Sands who died during a hunger strike in HM Prison Maze.
The Republic of Ireland international is a divisive figure in professional football, having previously called for a united Ireland, refusing to wear the poppy as is customary for November matches and once posing IRA-style in a balaclava for his children during a ‘school history lesson’.
In an earlier incident, McClean saluted Wrexham fans who chanted “he hates the f***ing King”, just weeks after Prince William was presented with a shirt at the club’s stadium.
Meanwhile, A-list celebrities descended on St Andrew’s for Monday’s match, with Birmingham co-owner and NFL legend Tom Brady joined by David Beckham for the clash in English football’s third tier.
James McClean (right) was involved in several firefights during Wrexham’s defeat to Birmingham
McClean had a drink thrown at him by Birmingham fans in the stands
The home side eventually made a stunning comeback, with goals from record signing Jay Stansfield turning the game on its head, as Birmingham recorded a memorable 3-1 victory.
Londonderry-born McClean has a reputation for conning opponents and was met with ridicule when he left the pitch with less than 10 minutes left on the clock.
Despite being behind in the match, McClean attempted to galvanise his opponents’ fans by gesturing towards them as he walked along the edge of the pitch after his substitution.
An angry punter then decided to throw a cup of Bovril at McClean and became upset when the defender, while walking behind the goal, demonstrated how he reacted by catching the cup with one hand.
The former Premier League star then pretended to take a sip, but then threw the drink away and continued walking back to the dugout, speaking to opposition fans as he went.
He later hit out at the Birmingham fan in a social media post, reflecting on the incident, saying: ‘To be fair to this fat, stinking ham, he probably didn’t have the energy or mobility to step over the advertising column.’
McClean also shared another post on Instagram in which he quoted IRA fighter Sands: “They have nothing in their entire imperial arsenal that can break the spirit of an Irishman who does not want to be broken.”
He added: ‘P.S. Kudos to the one old caretaker who stopped them from climbing over the 2-foot high billboards.’
McClean later responded to the incident with a strongly worded message on social media
McClean shared an infamous quote from a former IRA fighter in another post on his Instagram
It is believed McClean threw the drink at him after trying to irritate rival fans by hitting his thigh, showing off a ‘Free Derry’ tattoo, which refers to his birthplace in Northern Ireland.
The tattoo refers to the area which was a self-declared autonomous Irish nationalist borough during the Troubles.
McClean previously revealed that he does not wear the poppy because of the historic incident in Londonderry in which British soldiers shot dead 26 unarmed civilians, known as Bloody Sunday.
Last September, McClean admitted he regretted posting a controversial photo of himself in lockdown, “jokingly” homeschooling his children wearing a balaclava, which was interpreted as a reference to the IRA
McClean pretended to take a sip of the drink before throwing it off the pitch as he was substituted
McClean tried to further irritate his rival fans by slapping his thigh to show off his ‘Free Derry’ tattoo
McClean was also the only Wrexham player to receive a yellow card in the defeat, which means the side still sit top on goal difference.
Meanwhile, there was a huge round of applause in the Midlands as Brady and Beckham were joined in the stands by Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney.
Brady, a multiple Super Bowl champion, is trying to make a name for himself in English football after investing in Birmingham. During the match, he was taunted with an X-rated chant by Wrexham fans.
Brady pointed to the Wrexham supporters when he heard the chant and was in good spirits throughout the match as Birmingham moved level with Monday’s opponents at the top of the table.