Featured Image Credit: X/RobRyanRed & Twitter/bcfc_szn
Topics: Wrexham, Birmingham City, League One, Republic of Ireland
Rory O'Callaghan
Topics: Wrexham, Birmingham City, League One, Republic of Ireland
James McClean has come out swinging on social media after being slammed for his actions in Wrexham's defeat to Birmingham City.
No stranger to controversy, McClean was involved in several fiery moments in Monday's League One clash at St Andrew's – which ended in a 3-1 win for the home side.
McClean was subjected to abuse from the crowd throughout the match and tempers boiled over towards the end of the game when Wrexham striker Paul Mullin was involved in an incident with Birmingham's Alex Cochrane.
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Mullin appeared to attempt to bite Cochrane before pulling out at the final moment. That sparked a brawl between the two sets of players, with McClean at the centre of the fracas.
The former Republic of Ireland international was taken off with around seven minutes remaining in normal time and was seen goading the home fans while walking down the side of the pitch, after receiving another volley of verbal abuse.
At one point, a Birmingham supporter threw a cup of beer at McClean, who caught it and pretended to drink before throwing it away – gesturing to the home fans in the process.
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As reported by the Belfast Telegraph, he also lifted his left short leg to show a tattoo while walking off the pitch - slapping his thigh to draw attention to the design which represents Free Derry Corner in the city of his birth.
McClean has since taken to social media to defend his actions, while aiming insults at Birmingham supporters.
Posting a picture to Instagram of himself pretending the drink the pint, McClean wrote: "They have nothing in their whole imperial arsenal that can break the spirit of an Irishman who doesn't want to be broken" – a reported quote of IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands, who died while imprisoned at HM Prison Maze in Northern Ireland in 1981 during The Troubles.
McClean added: "Fair play to the one old steward that held them all back from getting over the 2ft advertising hoardings."
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The winger later posted a second picture of himself catching the cup, which featured a Birmingham fan in the background.
He added the caption: "In fairness to this smelly fat gammon, he probs didn't have the energy or mobility to step over the hoarding."
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McClean has been subjected to abuse from fans in England ever since he refusing to wear a poppy on his shirt following his arrival in English football with Sunderland in 2011.
He has also been known to make his own controversial comments, previously joking about giving his children a lesson on Irish history while wearing an IRA-style balaclava, which resulted in him being fined two weeks wages by Stoke City - his club at the time.
In 2022, he accused the FA of failing to act on the "sickening" abuse he and his family had faced since arriving in England.
"Everyone who attended the game would have heard this loud and clear including the referee, match officials and other officials," he wrote on social media, following a match for Wigan against his former club Sunderland.
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"I should not have to report every single incident when clearly they can all hear what I hear and they should be doing their job by taking action."