Football James McClean has said that he is only seeking “equality” after he took to social media to explain his frustration over lack of support from the public and his club over sectarian and bigoted abuse he has received for refusing to wear the poppy in honour of British forces.
The poppy is usually worn by public figures and private citizens in November to commemorate the sacrifice of British forces in various wars of the past but particularly the First and Second World Wars.
McLean who is from Derry, has refused to wear one due to the grisly legacy of British forces in Ireland, particularly in his hometown, referencing the Bloody Sunday massacre of civil rights protestors by British paratroopers in the Bogside of the city in 1972 as reason for the refusal.
The Ireland winger and Stoke City star has expressed his disappointment however, that his teammates, football authorities and the public have not supported him in the face of bigoted abuse as they have his teammates Wilfried Zaha and David McGoldrick the Mail Online reported.
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