Wrexham player James McClean refuses to stand with teammates for Remembrance silence
Wrexham FC player James McClean chose to distance himself from his fellow teammates during the moment of silence held prior to Remembrance Sunday.
The 35-year-old, who hails from Derry in Northern Ireland, has declined to participate in Remembrance events since relocating to England to join Sunderland in 2011.
Football players typically don shirts or wear armbands featuring remembrance poppies during matches held over Remembrance weekend.
During Saturday's League One match at the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham, where the home team faced off against Mansfield Town, both squads observed a minute of silence prior to the start of the game. However, McClean chose to distance himself from the group during this moment.
In the past, McClean has expressed his unwillingness to partake in traditions because of the British Army's involvement in The Troubles.
He was raised in the Creggan neighborhood of Derry, which was home to six of the individuals who lost their lives on Bloody Sunday in 1972.
The midfielder mentioned that he would don the poppy if it was meant only to honor the soldiers who lost their lives in the world wars, including those from Ireland. The British Legion encourages everyone to remember British troops who have died in all wars during Remembrance.
McClean has faced both criticism and acclaim for his position over the years.
Penalized by former team over balaclava tweet
In 2020, he faced a penalty from his previous team, Stoke City, after he shared a photo of himself in a balaclava with two kids. He stated that he was providing them with a "history lesson."
The post, which he eventually removed, was titled: "Today's Class Topic - History."
The club penalized him by docking two weeks of his pay, labeling the image as "unacceptable."
He later expressed, "My intention was never to upset anyone, but I've come to understand that I did, and for that, I sincerely apologize. I've had a conversation with the club and will be removing my Instagram account."
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In 2016, McClean decided to deactivate his Twitter account after sharing his thoughts on a song that narrates the tale of a boy whose dad dies while battling for the IRA.
