FOOTBALLER James McClean has criticised some of his international team-mates for their failure to condemn abusive attacks he has suffered.
The Republic international (31) also criticised the media and football authorities for their treatment of the abuse he received on a regular basis. The Derry man was responding to the “vile” racist comments directed at Premier League stars, Wilfried Zaha and David McGoldrick.
The Stoke City winger has frequently been targeted with racist and sectarian abuse over his refusal to wear a Poppy because of Bloody Sunday. In March he was also fined two weeks' wages by his club over an Instagram picture of himself wearing a balaclava in front of two children with the message “Today’s school lesson – history”.
In a radio interview yesterday he acknowledged that he had done some things that he regretted, however he said the abuse against him started long before that.
In his nine years as a professional footballer in England, he has had bullets sent through the post and is constantly the victim of online abuse. His wife and family have also been targeted, with internet trolls saying they hoped he contracted the coronavirus or died in a house fire.
Condemning the weekend abuse targeting McGoldrick and Zaha, McClean contrasted the support they received with the way attacks towards him were treated. He said apparent discrepancy left a “sour taste” in his mouth.
“I receive and have received more abuse than other players during my nine years in England whether that be death threats, bullets sent in the post, birthday cards, letters etc. This is not a cry for sympathy but one to ask the question what is the difference?
“12-year-old boy gets arrested for posting racial abuse online to Zaha again rightly so. Has anyone ever been held accountable for mines? No!”
McClean said key media outlets and newspapers failed to condemn attacks on him and his family. He also criticised some fellow international players over the issue.
“I have seen some of my fellow Irish team mates post a black square in support of anti-racism as well as post condemning the discrimination and again rightly so. Have I ever seen any of them ever post a public condemnation of the discrimination I get which funnily enough is a discrimination against them also? That would be a no!” he said.
