James McLean refusal to wear poppy on his shirt

[Royal Gooner]

What a load of tosh.

Knowing where this guy comes from and what happened there I don't blame him.

I would say that the non-British players could respect the anthem, why couldn't he? Mind you he did abuse a loophole in FIFA law to allow him to play for a foreign nation instead of his own. I have no respect for a person who hates their own country like him.

[Massa]

Non-issue and typical bullshit in this country with placing too much importance on token gestures.

[Sims]

James McClean is a hero

No-one boils piss better than him

[Dubs4Sam]

What a load of tosh.

Knowing where this guy comes from and what happened there I don't blame him.

I would say that the non-British players could respect the anthem, why couldn't he? Mind you he did abuse a loophole in FIFA law to allow him to play for a foreign nation instead of his own. I have no respect for a person who hates their own country like him.

He is playing for his country. He comes from Derry not London Derry. Soccer is the only sport on the island of Ireland that has 2 countries representing it - Rugby, Hockey, Boxing etc all represented under one flag the Republic of Ireland Flag.

[ivan itchybum]

What a load of tosh.

Knowing where this guy comes from and what happened there I don't blame him.

I would say that the non-British players could respect the anthem, why couldn't he? Mind you he did abuse a loophole in FIFA law to allow him to play for a foreign nation instead of his own. I have no respect for a person who hates their own country like him.

He is playing for his country. He comes from Derry not London Derry. Soccer is the only sport on the island of Ireland that has 2 countries representing it - Rugby, Hockey, Boxing etc all represented under one flag the Republic of Ireland Flag.

His name is Royal Gooner.. Why bother?

[Dubs4Sam]

What a load of tosh.

Knowing where this guy comes from and what happened there I don't blame him.

I would say that the non-British players could respect the anthem, why couldn't he? Mind you he did abuse a loophole in FIFA law to allow him to play for a foreign nation instead of his own. I have no respect for a person who hates their own country like him.

He is playing for his country. He comes from Derry not London Derry. Soccer is the only sport on the island of Ireland that has 2 countries representing it - Rugby, Hockey, Boxing etc all represented under one flag the Republic of Ireland Flag.

His name is Royal Gooner.. Why bother?

Maybe just maybe a break through may happen - you never know

[Santi]

Disrespectful tbh, why specifically make a fuss to turn away, he knew it was going to stir something up. Just stand there like everyone else, I'm sure an Argentinian player wouldn't have a problem.

Thought the poppy thing was fine but he seems like a bit of a w@nchor tbh.

[Callum]

I would say that the non-British players could respect the anthem, why couldn't he?

Because the British Army did terrible things in the area where he was raised and as a result I don't believe he should be forced to respect the flag and the anthem of Great Britain. It's not like he wiped his arse with the flag, he just didn't want to acknowledge it.

[StokeFan]

I would say that the non-British players could respect the anthem, why couldn't he?

Because the British Army did terrible things in the area where he was raised and as a result I don't believe he should be forced to respect the flag and the anthem of Great Britain. It's not like he wiped his arse with the flag, he just didn't want to acknowledge it.

Not often we agree Callum, is it? However you're correct on this one.

[Cripps]

Needs to realise of it wasn't for the British army, he'd be German.

[StokeFan]

Needs to realise of it wasn't for the British army, he'd be German.

And you need to realize, that the British Army were fighting for his right to do what he did.

[Santi]

I would say that the non-British players could respect the anthem, why couldn't he?

Because the British Army did terrible things in the area where he was raised and as a result I don't believe he should be forced to respect the flag and the anthem of Great Britain. It's not like he wiped his arse with the flag, he just didn't want to acknowledge it.

But he acknowledges everything else in the country while he lives and earns a wage here? Happy to pay taxes to our government i'm sure but has to try and stand out when the anthem is playing? Nobody is forcing him to sing, just stand there in a line with the rest...

[Cripps]

I'm sure if someone gave him money to acknowledge it, he would so all this high and mighty BS he's spouting needs to stop.

He knows full well he's a shit player and just doing this to be in the headlines. Fact he's known better for this than anything he's ever done on the field says it all I'm afraid.

[Maradonna]

I would say that the non-British players could respect the anthem, why couldn't he?

Because the British Army did terrible things in the area where he was raised and as a result I don't believe he should be forced to respect the flag and the anthem of Great Britain. It's not like he wiped his arse with the flag, he just didn't want to acknowledge it.

But he acknowledges everything else in the country while he lives and earns a wage here? Happy to pay taxes to our government i'm sure but has to try and stand out when the anthem is playing? Nobody is forcing him to sing, just stand there in a line with the rest...

so?, silly argument, i despise the american government because they are responsable of 10 years of dictatorship in my country, i hate everything about american external policies, yet i lived in san diego and new york for a couple of months.
i hate your religious state, and i find it laughable really, i cant believe that in the XXI century you still allow some people to call you "common," and you have a royal family, you are as pathetic as iran, you have still colonizing territory all over the world and you keep sucking United States ass everytime you can. yet i lived in london and i have the best time ever.
everyone has something that they dont like about the country where you live, you just look at the bright side of things, he was not laughing or talking shit about the tradition, he stand up with his head looking at the floor.
apples and oranges.

[Callum]

I would say that the non-British players could respect the anthem, why couldn't he?

Because the British Army did terrible things in the area where he was raised and as a result I don't believe he should be forced to respect the flag and the anthem of Great Britain. It's not like he wiped his arse with the flag, he just didn't want to acknowledge it.

But he acknowledges everything else in the country while he lives and earns a wage here? Happy to pay taxes to our government i'm sure but has to try and stand out when the anthem is playing? Nobody is forcing him to sing, just stand there in a line with the rest...

It's irrelevant though because he's not saying he hates Britain, British people or the country in general, but rather the flag and the anthem represent some pretty horrifying things over in the part of Ireland he's from. Just because he doesn't want to honour the flag doesn't mean he is somehow a hypocrite for living and working in this country.