James McClean returns to Ireland with his wife as footage emerges of him taunting furious fans after his Remembrance protest before Wrexham star called the British army ‘terrorists’
Wrexham defender James McClean was spotted in Dublin on Sunday supporting his former team Derry City, just 24 hours after footage emerged of him taunting Mansfield fans following his Remembrance Day protest.
Before his team’s match against Mansfield, McClean stood apart from the Wrexham and Mansfield players and observed a minute’s silence.
The Welsh side, who sit third in League One, defeated the Stags after an early strike from winger Ryan Barnett.
A video has since come to light showing McClean appearing to blow kisses to Mansfield supporters after the final whistle.
And just a day later, McClean saw his former side succumb to Drogheda United in the men’s Irish Cup final.
James McClean, his wife Erin O’Connor and his son flew back to Ireland 24 hours after the Remembrance Day protest
McClean stood apart from his Wrexham teammates and observed a moment of silence on Saturday
The away fans expressed their displeasure towards the Northern Irishman as he walked through the tunnel, but he responded with a smile and a wave before leaving the pitch.
The 35-year-old was named as a starter in Saturday’s match at the Racecourse Ground and decided to stick with his earlier decision not to wear a poppy.
Players across the UK typically wear a poppy armband or a shirt with the iconic flower etched into it during the memorial weekend.
However, because McClean does not support tradition, he instead stood alone, a few feet away from the group of players paying their respects.
During the match, Wrexham supporters chanted that McClean ‘hates the bloody King’ just after the moment of silence ended.
On Sunday, the 35-year-old posted a statement on his Instagram account this morning after a video emerged of the Wrexham captain comparing British soldiers to ‘terrorists’.
This morning, X published footage of McClean being interviewed by Patrick Kielty on the Late Late Show, in which he made comparisons between the IRA and the British army.
McClean reiterated that his position was the result of the “brutal crimes” committed by British soldiers when they shot dead 13 unarmed civilians during Bloody Sunday in 1972.
McClean’s wife posted photos of them smiling together as they watched Derry City’s Irish Cup final defeat to Drogheda United
McClean taunted Mansfield fans after abuse came his way after the win
The 35-year-old posted a statement on his Instagram account this morning after a clip emerged of Ireland’s Wrexham captain comparing British soldiers to ‘terrorists’.
“That’s why I’ve never worn a poppy and never will,” he told his 120,000 followers. “One thing I have never done and never will do is bend the knee to compromise my beliefs.”
McClean said he would happily wear the poppy on his shirt if its sole purpose was to honor those who died in both World War I and World War II.
However, he claimed that the poppy is ‘now being forced on everyone in Britain and god forbid anyone doesn’t wear it, the abuse they have to endure’.
McClean was born in Derry, Northern Ireland, where British paratroopers shot dozens of unarmed civilians in 1972 during a protest march known as Bloody Sunday. Thirteen were killed and at least fifteen others were injured.
The footballer first made headlines in 2012 for his personal decision not to wear a poppy in the run-up to Remembrance Day, a decision which led to him being booed by some of his own fans.
He continued this stance throughout his career in England, which made him the target of sectarian abuse.
His decision has previously seen McClean face a barrage of abuse from angry supporters who see his poppy snack as an insult to the memory of forces killed in battle.
The Republic of Ireland international is a divisive figure in professional football and has previously called for a united Ireland.
Last September, McClean admitted he regretted posting a controversial photo of himself in lockdown, “jokingly” homeschooling his children in a balaclava, which was interpreted as a reference to the IRA
Just below a tattoo of Free Derry – a self-declared autonomous Irish nationalist part of the city during the Troubles – McClean has a quote from author and playwright Enid Bagnold
He has refused to wear a poppy, as is customary during November matches, and once posed IRA-style in a balaclava for his children for a ‘school history lesson’.
In September he clashed with Birmingham City supporters when he was substituted and later called a fan a ‘stinking fat gammon’ during the match after catching a cup of Bovril thrown at him.
Reflecting the fallout from the game, McClean also honored a previous IRA fighter in an Instagram post that said: “They have nothing in their entire Imperial arsenal that can break the spirit of an Irishman who doesn’t want to be broken.”