UK & World News
- 19 November 2012, 14:03
James McClean: Death Threats Over Poppy Snub
Premier League star James McClean has received death threats after refusing to wear an embroidered poppy on his shirt during a top-flight match.
The Irish winger did not wear a jersey with a poppy emblem during Sunderland's match against Everton on November 10.
The poppy commemorates Remembrance Day, and honours those who sacrificed their lives in wars.
The footballer has since been targeted on social networking site Twitter, including by one user who posted pictures of bullets and wrote: "He deserves to be shot dead + body dragged past the cenotaph!!"
McClean was booed by fans during his side's 3-1 win over Fulham on Sunday, but manager Martin O'Neill said it was the player's "free choice" not to wear the poppy.
"James will deal with it. I think it's probably to do with the issue of last week," he said.
"It's a free choice in this world. James has lived with a lot of things. He's getting death threats as well so that doesn't help."
The footballer was subjected to abuse on Twitter earlier this year after switching national teams from Northern Ireland to Ireland.
what do you think?
ali baba
Freedom of speech. His right not to wear one. He is Irish catholic. English Soliders aint exactly top of his Christmas list.
blue side
Many Irishmen died fighting to give him his freedom
andy johnson
andy many irishmen died fighting for the uk
stewgwyn
Then what's he doing earning megabucks in England if English Soldiers ''aint exactly top of his Christmas list'' ali baba ? Double standards ?
doug piercy
Why would you not wear one? Don't really understand unless of course you do not enjoy the freedom to earn millions for doing very little & being pampered to your every whim ... The sacrifice made for you to enjoy that means nothing?? ...still don't understand.
Jeffrey Gwynn
Well put, Doug.
Kimberley Lamb
I can't see the reason why if would not wear it but he must have his own reasons . I think everyone has a right to choice and he chose not to wear it but that does not mean he is in the wrong ! Freedom of choice is not a crime . It would be a very boring world if we were all the same :-)
Vladtheinhaler .
Putting it simply. The man is a disgrace. Did i say "man"???.Pampered spoilt kid, who can't show a bit of respect for the real "men", who died in the wars.
wickhampatrick
He just another of hundreds of big-headed footballers. Why should we bother with him, he's nobody.
gengisken1227
This comment has been removed for violations of our Terms and Conditions.
Steven White
Exactly, if his morals where so high why would he play football here?
pat ormond
To be fair Ireland wasnt a free country during WW1 it was occupied by the British and part of it still is
hollywoodbowden
This comment has been removed for violations of our Terms and Conditions.
kenwilby
I wonder how many of those who booed him didn't actually wear a poppy themselves.
ali baba
All English church of England people in northern Ireland have to wear those big funny green hats on st Patrick's day!
david
sore point but can the individual have a choice ..of what to wear,,,he chose not to wear a poppy..muslims go out in our streets and burn a poppy/they dont get this much press..
Ziggy Squires
All the team shirts should have been produced with a poppy on. If any player refuses to wear the shirt, he does not play. Simples
stewgwyn
Exactly, Ziggy, when in Rome....... I don't give a flying fig if he's Irish, Chinese or a Martian, he's here by choice making a very good living in Britain, unlike most of us.
shaun spencer
It his right not to wear a poppy being an irish catholic.still it would have done no harm if he had.
john
Everyone should have a poppy tattooed on their forehead at birth and we should rename Great Britain Poppyland.
john
I have been marked down by unpatriotic traitors! Shame on you.
Andrea Hill
Ignorant man.
Adrian Wagstaff
I always find it strange that my mum has always worn a poppy for Remembrance Day since they were first used and she now has Alzheimers and can't remember anything. Some of her friends have Alzheimers and they always got poppys on Remembrance Day and someone down the road used to always wear a poppy and they ended up with Alzheimers. It's just weird that it's called "Remembrance Day" and even though my mum has always worn a poppy, she just can't remember a thing? Presumably, he has a reason for not wanting to wear one or I was wondering if even his poppy shirt got ripped or stained then he decided to wear a different shirt and couldn't be bothered to explain why?
happymike CHESTER
I would not buy one when it was called the Heigh fund now I do but it is a free choice threatening people who don`t is showing your bigotry.
Dave Harrison
Thousands of men & women of these islands fought & died to allow him this choice including many Irishmen. This silly boy disrespects those from his own community as well just to make a cheap sectarian point. Is it any wonder that after 400 years they are still at each others throats in Ireland with attitudes like this from 23 year old.
Windows Live User
While I fully understand I wonder if Mr. O'Neil has considered his statement and realised how free choice still remains an option? There are still plenty of places on this planet where free choice is but a dream The sending of threats to the footballer however is not what our grandfathers, fathers and brothers fought for. This more like the situation that would exist had freedom been lost.
michael crane
7:06am on 19/11/2012
Freedom of choice, just be thankful we have it
stewgwyn
11:54am on 19/11/2012
Freedom of choice, exactly. Hence the poppy. It's symbolic of the sacrifice so that we have that freedom. It doesn't kill anyone to wear one.