McLean refusing to wear the shirt (poppy)

[Victor Meldrew]

I can't see that anybody else has picked up on the fact that Irishman McLean of Sunderland refused to wear a shirt with a poppy on it.
With all the stuff about not wearing "kick it out " t-shirts (optional and it was not part of their work uniform) how disrespectful was it for McLean to refuse to wear the special shirt on a special Saturday?
Why doesn't he f*** off back to Ireland and earn a living there?

Where will all this end?
Will Jason Roberts refuse to wear a Reading shirt because he shops at Lidl rather than Waitrose?
Will one of the teams sponsored by online bookies get players not wearing the shirt becauuse they don't bet?
Will non-drinkers refuse to wear a shirt if their club is sponsored by a drinks companies?
Will they refuse to wear boots unless the leather comes from humanely slaughtered animals?

You are footballers-get on with doing what you are paid to do.

[NTRoyal]

Just shows what an idiot him and biggoted Irish/Celtic supporters are. The Irish fought in both WW1 and WW2, therefore he is disrespecting his own people. Knob.

[Royalist]

Poppy is a British thing. He is Irish. Irish and the British army are not the best of friends historically.

Bit of a non story really. I'm sure he respects those who lost their lives in causes he agrees with.

[tilehurstender]

I'm amazed that there hasn't been more about this story in the national media. Personally I think it's outrageous that this gobshite of a player is allowed to disrespect all those who paid the ultimate price so the likes of him can live in a democracy. If Argentinian, Muslim and the rest of the Republic of Ireland players in the premiership can wear the poppy shirt why can't he? Personally, I hope he breaks his ankle in six places and never plays again!

[Wizard]

I'm happy that he chose to stand up for what he believes in, rather than just being a yes man. Refreshing to see from a premier league player. Total joke of a story.

[Alexander Litvinenko]

As soon as it's compulsory and everyone *HAS* to wear it, the whole gesture of wearing one becomes meaningless.

Because correct me if I'm wrong, all those people being commemorated died so that people could have personal freedom of choice - even if the choice exercised was one that others disagreed with.

[PBR]

i don't wear a poppy, suck it

[blindedbythelights]

fair fooks to him, lol @ crying proddys

[tilehurstender]

typical cowards answer. bit like planting bombs in shopping centres

[bobbybottler]

Disappointed to see that this wasn't about TROLI etc etc

[John Madejski's Wallet]

Because correct me if I'm wrong, all those people being commemorated died so that people could have personal freedom of choice.

Here here

And as such, it is our right to consider him a scummy little feeble-minded irish pcunter and treat him accordingly

[AthleticoSpizz]

and as such, the club should've exercised their rights and dropped him from the game and the payroll for the week.

[Wizard]

I'm amazed that there hasn't been more about this story in the national media. Personally I think it's outrageous that this gobshite of a player is allowed to disrespect all those who paid the ultimate price so the likes of him can live in a democracy. If Argentinian, Muslim and the rest of the Republic of Ireland players in the premiership can wear the poppy shirt why can't he? Personally, I hope he breaks his ankle in six places and never plays again!

I would love to see him at Reading, been quality every time I've seen him play.

What is the point in being forced to wear one? That completely nullifies the point of one in the first place. This tradition of wearing a poppy on the shirt does back, what, 3 years? Fair oxf*rd to him.

I'd rather burn a poppy than wear one, as a show of support to the right of free speech, which is ultimately what these people fought for anyway.

[Avon Royal]

As soon as it's compulsory and everyone *HAS* to wear it, the whole gesture of wearing one becomes meaningless.

Because correct me if I'm wrong, all those people being commemorated died so that people could have personal freedom of choice - even if the choice exercised was one that others disagreed with.

So choice is good unless it relates to having to pay for the BBC and their socialist agenda?

[soggy biscuit]

I'd rather burn a poppy than wear one.

Lol

[Alexander Litvinenko]

As soon as it's compulsory and everyone *HAS* to wear it, the whole gesture of wearing one becomes meaningless.

Because correct me if I'm wrong, all those people being commemorated died so that people could have personal freedom of choice - even if the choice exercised was one that others disagreed with.

So choice is good unless it relates to having to pay for the BBC and their socialist agenda?

People have choice on a publicly funded BBC - it's called the ballot box.

[Barry the bird boggler]

Interesting one this, McLean was born and raised in Derry which is in Northern Ireland and played for Northern Ireland at junior and U21 level which hardly calls him out as being of a hardline republican background.

Seems a very stupid/ill-informed/inexplicable decision to make especially given the numbers of Irish (both North and south of the border) who did fight for Britain & the Allies in WWII and the fact he is British and the fact numerous other Irish players in the British leagues have no (public) issues with poppy day. Believe even German/Italian and Japanese players have not taken such a decision.

[Terminal Boardom]

Freedom of choice and the history of Derry is not one for the faint hearted. Someone please remind me which league Derry City play in?

[Silver Fox]

You are footballers-get on with doing what you are paid to do.

I didn't realise they were being paid to promote the british Legion appeal?

[Terminal Boardom]

I can't see that anybody else has picked up on the fact that Irishman McLean of Sunderland refused to wear a shirt with a poppy on it.
With all the stuff about not wearing "kick it out " t-shirts (optional and it was not part of their work uniform) how disrespectful was it for McLean to refuse to wear the special shirt on a special Saturday?
Why doesn't he f*** off back to Ireland and earn a living there?

Where will all this end?
Will Jason Roberts refuse to wear a Reading shirt because he shops at Lidl rather than Waitrose?
Will one of the teams sponsored by online bookies get players not wearing the shirt becauuse they don't bet?
Will non-drinkers refuse to wear a shirt if their club is sponsored by a drinks companies?
Will they refuse to wear boots unless the leather comes from humanely slaughtered animals?

You are footballers-get on with doing what you are paid to do.

What a pile of poo. The clubs and players get paid for those things. The poppy is a different thing altogether.