ANTI-DISCRIMINATION GROUP Kick it Out have today released a statement condemning sectarian abuse sent to Stoke and Ireland footballer James McClean.
McClean today took to Twitter to share images of a death threat sent to him.
It was sent on a greeting card and was scrawled with sectarian abuse, which called McClean a “Fenian sub human bastard” and included a series of vile comments about Ireland, which included references to Hitler, Bobby Sands and Bloody Sunday.
McClean shared images of the card with the caption, “No words needed.”
No words needed pic.twitter.com/InDTeHiW1t
— James McClean (@JamesMcC_14) May 1, 2019
In a statement to The42, anti-discrimination group Kick it Out condemned the abuse of McClean, describing it as a “disgrace.”
“We reiterate our stance”, read the statement, “which we have previously made clear: sectarian abuse is discriminatory and should be dealt with accordingly. It has no place in football.
Kick It Out has been in continuous contact with Stoke City on this issue and have offered our support to James McClean. The vicious treatment he continues to receive is a disgrace and brings shame upon the sport.
“This season we have received two reports of sectarian abuse directed at James, both of which we have forwarded to the relevant bodies to investigate, as per protocol.
“We encourage anyone who is a victim or witness of sectarian abuse in England to report it to us.”
McClean has received support from his former international teammate Jon Walters, who tweeted “An absolute disgrace to have to receive the death threats and racial abuse that @JamesMcC_14 does. Not one race or religion is superior to another!! Where are your voices now @FA @EFL @kickitout? Or does this not apply to him?”
When contacted by The42, the FA and the EFL declined to comment, saying it is a police matter.
McClean endures consistent abuse from English football crowds for his refusal to wear a poppy on his shirt for Remembrance Sunday.
The FA don’t protect McClean at all. If McClean was black or Chinese etc, this would be all over the front of every paper. This won’t even be reported in UK.
@Paul Kennedy: 100% agree . You hear all Irish players jokingly talk about the abuse they get as a “ paddy “ in stadiums around Britain yet it’s a non issue with the brits . Double standards but I think British society in general have always looked down on the Irish and that won’t change any time soon .
Imagine a letter like this was sent to Raheem Sterling. There would be UPROAR but because it’s McClean the FA will no doubt keep quiet on this. Disgraceful
@Jamie Bent: correct..well said.its not even reported on sky sports news.
The author says that the poppy represents all of Britain’s war dead including those who died on Bloody Sunday. Correct me if I’m wrong but I thought 13 people died on Bloody Sunday at the hands of the British army. The poppy actually represents all British soldiers who have died in all conflicts since and including WW1. Does the author not know this. The reason McClean doesn’t wear a poppy is because it would be remembering people like those associated with the attack on that particular day.
Shocking stuff. You can say what you want about the FA getting involved but this is a bigger issue than that. It’s a societal issue that the police and the government have to deal with
James McClean I’d say is the most abused player in England by miles..there’s always some feckn gob shyts giving him venom any given week thats not interested in the game.now there sending him cards from poundworld.ha.keep the head up James they haven’t or will never break you..
Ah the great British empire and it’s Neanderthal subjects
Degenerates
Correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t non Irish people call Derry by the other name, Londonderry?
@Bungee Aky: mu##et it only has one name
@Peter Govan: the late Gerry Anderson, a scion or those parts, used sometimes refer to it as stroke city rather than say Derry/London Derry.
@Bungee Aky: Even in the song the sash its called Derry, “It is old but it is beautiful, and its colours they are fine
It was worn at Derry, Aughrim,…..” and its the Apprentice boys of Derry not Londonderry. Which confuses things a bit.
At least he didn’t call Derry Londonderry
“Ah shur it’s grand, he’s white and he’s Irish, where is the problem lads, ‘tis only a bit of craic, you Irish used to be great craic, what happened?” That’s the general consensus over here sadly
When Sky Sports posted a report on this on Facebook yesterday, I made the mistake of reading the comments. Some horrendous stuff from British commenters, there’s zero chance of this sort of thing ceasing when there is such ignorance and vitriol out there. Must be said that there were plenty of others from Britain who spoke out against the abuse too.