THE PLAYERS’ FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION of Ireland (PFAI) and Show Racism the Red Card have called on the English and Scottish FA’s to investigate incidents of anti-Irish racism.
In a joint-statement released on Tuesday, they asked for a more thorough examination of abuse suffered by players such as Ireland international James McClean and managers including Hibernian’s Neil Lennon.
Both men have been subject to attacks in recent weeks, McClean receiving both verbal and online abuse for not wearing a remembrance poppy and Lennon having a coin thrown at him during a recent game against Hearts.
The English FA announced yesterday that they were investigating McClean for an Instagram post in which he referred to Middlesborough supporters as “uneducated cavemen” after being taunted by away fans on Saturday, with the 29-year-old also quoting Bobby Sands.
“The FA have announced that they have investigated and warned James McClean for use of language arising from a post he put up on Instagram in which he referred to supporters who were abusing him,” the PFAI and Show Racism the Red Card said today.
This statement is a joint call from Show Racism the Red Card Ireland, Show Racism the Red Card UK and the PFAI to both the Football Association in England and the Scottish Football Association to have a more robust approach to abuse faced by players like James McClean and managers such as Neil Lennon.”
The statement added that both organisations stood in solidarity with McClean and Lennon and all those involved in football who had spoken out about the issue.
“Racism on the basis of colour, nationality, religion or ethnicity is not acceptable and all within the game have a responsibility to respond appropriately,” it continued.
“James McClean has stood in solidarity with team mates who have experienced racism and spoken out. We stand in solidarity with James McClean, Neil Lennon and all those who experience racism.
We call on both the Football Association in England and the Scottish Football Association to investigate all incidents of anti-Irish discrimination.”
On Tuesday Ireland manager Martin O’Neill said that not wearing a poppy was entirely McClean’s choice, feeling that the player’s decision should be respected.
“James is entitled to do what he wants,” O’Neill said. “This was the entire point. It’s entirely his choice and I think we should respect it.
“James obviously becomes the focus of attention around this particular time… Nothing unusual about that.”
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It’s about time
Any other race this would be an outrage
@Aiden: spot on. Same with Lennon in Scotland and basically anything at all with Irish connections. Ignorance is bliss when it comes to history across the water!
Why do the FA have to bring this into football ?? So many players from different countries. Why not leave it out ?
I’m not trying to speak for everyone but we, as Irish people, do tend to take a lot of the stuff that is thrown as us. The banking crisis and the subsequent fallout and austerity measures were accepted in an Irish manner. As Celts, we are a race. Irish Catholic is a strong modern subset of that race. It is utterly clear that Lennon and McClean receive sectarian and racist abuse due to their association with Irish Republicanism- Lennon for his time at Celtic, McClean for his self-identification as such. About time the bigots who subject them to such taunts are reprimanded as a result. Abuse of, for example, a black or Muslim player on grounds of colour or religion would lead to the ‘Kick It Out’ crowd losing their minds.
@EnKy: And I’m sure this was an issue during the 90s and 80s for Irish footballers in England, in particular at times when the IRA were subjecting the UK to despicable bombings. It would have been much harder to speak out at that time given the acts of that minority.
@EnKy: probably because what Irish players face is xenophobia, not racism.
Good move. I think its quiet ironic to think that soldiers died in WW2 to stop the use of a symbol and allow people freedom of speech…and now ancestors of the same people are pushing a symbol and critising McClean and Matic for not standing with them!!
@Justin Flynn: to be fair, the legion has come out in support of mcclean and his right not to wear it
@John: i didnt know that. Fair enough.
Typical. The FA are investigating McClean for an Instagram post.
Typical English snobbery
Political symbolism has no place on football jerseys. What was originally one day of commemoration has now become a month and it’s now nothing more than a recruitment drive for the British army. Well done McClean and Matic. Perhaps more footballers will now join them and fight this poppy fascism.
Too right. We have to defend our own.
Far beyond time UFEA needs to get involved and heavily fine and ban any clubs from Britain who overlook such sectarian bigotry and hatred, if these thugs were abusing a Jewish person and shouting anti semitic remarks those responsible would have been banned for life already. Yet these ‘people’ have for a time gotten away with it, why?, time for them to be rooted out and banned for life. All players from Ireland should show solidarity and wear their own symbol that says no to these hooligans and their toxic hatred.
68bn spent on their military in 2017 and their soldiers that they are so intent on us all remembering rely on handouts from the British Legion,some rely on foodbanks,have no access to medication or psychological care and yet it is the people who refuse to wear it who receive all the hate.Say what you want about the Brits,but they always know how to turn a story to make themselves look good.