THE Football Association is investigating an incident involving Stoke City winger James McClean and parts of the crowd during his team’s 0-0 draw against Middlesbrough on Saturday and a social media post afterwards. 

In a post on his Instagram account, McClean addressed members of the audience who booed him for not wearing a poppy during the game.  

The Ireland international began his post quoting the Irish republican hunger striker Bobby Sands: “‘They have nothing in their whole imperial arsenal that can break the spirit of one Irishman who doesn’t want to be broken’.” 

“Your abuse, your throwing things, your booing, do your worst,” the post read.

“To the home fans that are actually educated and support me, thank you. To the section of uneducated cavemen in [...] the Boothen End stand that want to song their anti-Irish song each game and call me a Fenian this and that… I am a proud Fenian. No cunt will ever change that, so sing away.”

Upon hearing that the FA had opened an investigation into his social media post today, the Ireland international took to social media again to express his consternation. 

“The FA are investigating me after Saturday’s event, for what exactly?” he asked. 

“Yet week in week out for the past seven years, I get constant sectarian abuse, death threats, objects being thrown, chanting which is heard loud and clear every week, which my family, wife and kids have to listen to, [which the FA] turns a blind eye to and [says] not a single word or condemnation of any sort.”

He said were this about a player’s skin colour, religion or gender then the FA would be in an uproar.

“[But] like in Neil Lennon’s case in Scotland, because we are Irish Catholics, [the FA] turns a blind eye and nothing is ever said and done.”

The jingoistic condemnations spread to other players who chose not to wear a poppy at the weekend. 

Carlisle midfielder Jamie Devitt took to social media to explain why he removed a poppy-adorned armband during Saturday’s League Two game against Newport. 

The 28-year-old Irishman wrote on Twitter underneath a photo of himself wearing the armband: “People [giving] me shit for not wearing the armband, [the picture] clearly shows I have it on here but because I have twig arms it was falling down when I moved. 

“So after the minutes silence, I decided to remove it as it wouldn’t stay on #skinnymanproblems #twigarms #?.”

Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic was the only player on the pitch not to wear a poppy on his kit during the 2-1 away victory over Bournemouth on Saturday. 

The Serb wrote on Instagram: “I recognise fully why people wear poppies, I totally respect everyone’s right to do so and I have total sympathy for anyone who has lost loved ones due to conflict.

“However, for me it is only a reminder of an attack that I felt personally as a young, frightened 12-year-old boy living in Vrelo, as my country was devastated by the bombing of Serbia in 1999. 

“While I have done so previously, on reflection, I now don’t feel it is right for me to wear the poppy on my shirt.

“I do not want to undermine the poppy as a symbol of pride within Britain or offend anyone, however, we are all a product of our own upbringing and this is a personal choice for the reasons outlined.

“I hope everyone understands my reasons now that I have explained them and I can concentrate on helping the team in the games that lie ahead.”