Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Robert Hynes

RTE Liveline caller criticised for James McClean poppy comments after saying Wigan star should play in Ireland

A caller to RTE's Liveline was criticised online after claiming that James McClean should wear a poppy.

He also suggested that the Derry native should play his football in Ireland rather than England over his refusal to wear one.

Adam phoned the radio show after black paint was thrown at the Royal British Legion offices in Dublin last Friday.

READ MORE: James McClean responds to Graeme Souness 'get on with it' poppy comments

But during his conversation with host Katie Hannon, Adam began to take aim at Republic of Ireland star McClean over his poppy stance, which was highlighted by Hannon.

She explained: "He [McClean] would say if the poppy was just about World War 1 and World War 2 and just about the victims and the people who died on those battlefields that he would wear it with no problem at all.

"But he says it is not that, it is for all the conflicts and that is the case is it not? I think the Royal British Legion would acknowledge that. It's for all the conflicts Britain has been involved in.

"And he says [as someone] from the streets of Derry, and we all know what happened in Derry on Bloody Sunday, he can't wear something that actually symbolises that or represents that in any way."

Adam replied by saying: "But he's quite happy to take the King's shilling or the Queen's shilling, he's quite happy to make the UK his home..."

At this point host Katie interrupted and said that is a completely separate issue.

But Adam continued: "If he's so Irish, why is he not playing within the Irish leagues?

"As far as I'm concerned, if he doesn't want to wear the poppy, that's his choice, but I say it comes down to ignorance.

"There were many conflicts before the First World War. The poppy came to bear as a result of the millions upon millions of men, women and children, but mainly men, who died in the First World War. Senseless slaughter to gain a few hundred metres of ground day in day out and it went on for nearly five years."

James McClean (©INPHO/Ryan Byrne)

He added: "For me, James McClean is as ignorant as the idiots who threw that black paint on the door of the Royal British Legion."

When asked if he felt that McClean is entitled to have reservations about wearing a symbol that is so associated with the British Army as a Derry man, Adam said: "I believe he's entitled to whatever he wants to believe. But again, even out of a mark of respect to the very fans who pay his wages and to the teammates who play alongside him, he should at least have some respect for where he is, as opposed to his political beliefs. This isn't about politics, this is about men who have died in battle."

Needless to say the conversation sparked huge debate online, with a number of people uncomfortable with Adam stating that McClean should have to wear a poppy.

One said: "James McClean is perfectly entitled to not wear the poppy. Surely the soldiers that died to combat fascism would baulk at people being forced to wear it?"

Another commented: "That guy in #liveline about the poppy.. obnoxious. then going in studs up on James McClean. Didn’t take long did it?"

Someone else tweeted: "We learned today that anyone who has any issue with the poppy is ignorant. Good to know."

READ NEXT:

Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.