IRELAND ace James McClean wore a BALACLAVA in front of his children in an Instagram post he described as a ‘history lesson’.
The Stoke City winger uploaded the photo to his Instagram story before deleting it shortly after.
McClean later deleted the post and made his Instagram account privateCredit: Getty – Contributor
McClean has received abuse throughout his career for refusing to wear a Remembrance Day Poppy
The photo shows the Derry native sporting a balaclava – headwear synonymous with the IRA – while sitting in front of two of his children indoors.
The caption on the picture reads: “Today’s school lesson – history.”
And the Ireland star also included a laughing emoji in the caption.
McClean deleted the photo before locking his Instagram account away from the public.
The Ireland star has been blasted for the post on social media with some Twitter users describing it as ‘disgraceful’.
@LFCSandra said: “A disgraceful Instagram post from Stoke City footballer James McClean.”
While @Ian19878jambo said: “James McClean proving once again what a lowlife scumbag he really is.”
The Irish Sun reached out to the FAI who have declined to comment.
We have also contacted McClean’s agent and Stoke City.
HISTORY OF ABUSE
The 30 year old has been subjected to abuse throughout his career for his refusal to wear a Remembrance Day poppy.
McClean has taken this stance in memory of the Bloody Sunday massacre in which 13 unarmed citizens were murdered in his native Derry in 1972.
He has explained: “If the poppy was simply about World War One and Two victims alone, I’d wear it without a problem.
“I would wear it every day of the year if that was the thing but it doesn’t. It stands for all the conflicts that Britain has been involved in. Because of the history where I come from in Derry, I cannot wear something that represents that.”
Earlier this season Barnsley were charged by the FA over alleged sectarian abuse of the Ireland star.
The Championship club were fined £20,000 after a club official said McClean ‘should be used to’ abuse.
The PFA released a statement in January condemning the ‘vile’ abuse McClean received which they described as ‘a weekly occurrence’.
McClean has said that he is happy to be ‘the fall guy’ if sectarian abuse is stamped out in football.
He said: “Without trying to sound like some kind of hero, if I have to be the fall guy for young Irish footballers coming through, that they don’t have to suffer that, then I’m happy about that.
“I’ve been critical of the FA in the past and rightly so but credit where it’s due, they have been brilliant recently.”
McClean has been an integral part of the Republic of Ireland side under Mick McCarthy, playing in every game of the Euro 2020 qualification campaign.
Stoke star James McClean abused by QPR fans for not wearing a poppy
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
