JAMES McCLEAN had a furious bust-up with a Stockport fan and was slammed over his role in Wrexham’s controversial winner.
The Irish winger’s rant at linesman Abbas Khan resulted in ref Simon Mather overturning his decision to award a corner in favour of a penalty.
McClean had leapt up for a header inside the area and nodded the ball onto the back of Stockport defender Ibou Touray’s raised hand.
The ball made contact with Touray – but from point-blank range – and ref Mather awarded a corner.
Video then showed McClean, 35, raging at Khan, berating the linesman for not giving a penalty.
The lino then beckoned Mather over and, following a chat, the ref changed his decision.
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Well over a minute had passed since the incident.
Former Stoke star McClean was furious after an initial decision to award a corner, waving his arms in the air and berating the linesman for not giving a penalty.
That decision left Stockport fans seething, taking to social media to vent after conceding in a huge promotion fight in League One.
One wrote: “Great refereeing by James McClean”.
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While another added: “Didn’t create nearly enough to warrant getting anything. Doesn’t help that James McClean was officiating the game!”
A third fumed: “How is that a pen?!”
And another jokingly replied: “It is when McClean is officiating”.
Other posts accused McClean of “reffing” the game and “bullying”.
Jay Rodriguez took the 29th-minute spot-kick and saw it saved by Stockport keeper Corey Addai.
But the former Premier League striker tucked away the rebound to earn a 1-0 win in the League One promotion clash.
McClean was then involved in a heated row with a fan as he made his way down the Racecourse Ground tunnel at half-time before the supporter was led away by police.
SunSport understands that the supporter in question has alleged that McClean attacked him.
However, both Wrexham and the Police have reviewed CCTV and there appears to be no evidence of the incident happening and McClean has not been arrested.
Stockport manager Dave Challinor bit his tongue when it came to the decision.
“I am not going to get myself in trouble by saying what I really believe”, he said.
“It has never been a penalty. There were arguments for a potential penalty on the decision before with Sam Smith but that was more of a penalty than the one that was given.
“And for a linesman to get involved on the far side of the pitch and do nothing else in the game cost us a point.
“It flipped the momentum in the first half and was another poor decision.”
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The League One clash was certainly feisty with 10 yellow cards and one red card dished out by the referee over the course of 90 minutes.
Wrexham’s victory sends the Red Dragons three points clear of third-placed Wycombe who have a game in hand and also takes them nine clear of the Hatters in fifth.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
