James McClean rages at FA probe into ‘uneducated cavemen’ comments as Stoke man claims governing body ‘turn a blind eye’ to the abuse he receives
The Stoke winger was heavily criticised for not wearing a poppy at the weekend and clashed with his own fans after the 0-0 draw with Middlesbrough
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STOKE winger James McClean has sensationally claimed the Football Association have "turned a blind eye" to the abuse he receives because he's an Irish Catholic.
The FA are investigating the 29-year-old after his social media post blasting his own fans following the goalless draw with Middlesbrough on Saturday.
McClean was abused by supporters for not wearing a poppy during the game at the Britannia - a stance he has maintained for many years.
The Republic of Ireland man has explained the reasons behind his decision on numerous occasions in the past, with the Potters issuing a statement before the game confirming his stance had not changed.
McClean was born in Derry, where British soldiers shot dead 13 civilian protesters during Bloody Sunday in 1972.
He believes the poppy commemorates all British military activity, including the Bloody Sunday killings in his hometown.
McClean received abuse throughout the Championship encounter, with angry scenes following the final whistle - before labelling the Stoke fans who verbally attacked him as "uneducated cavemen" in a furious Instagram post.
And the situation has now taken another turn for the worse for McClean, with the FA set to probe him for his remarks.
The ex-West Brom winger reacted to that news by taking to social media again in a spectacular rant - suggesting he, along with Hibernian boss Neil Lennon, continue to be discriminated against.
He said: "If it was a person's skin colour, anti-Muslim or someone's gender there would be an uproar.
"It would be taken in a complete different way and dealt with in a different manner.
"But like in Neil Lennon's case in Scotland, because we are Irish Catholics, they turn a blind eye and nothing is ever said and done."
He continued: "Yet week in, week out for the past seven years, I have got constant sectarian abuse.
"As well as death threats, objects being thrown at me, chanting which is heard loud and clear every week which my family, wife and kids have to listen too.
"They turn a blind eye and not a single word or condemnation of any sort."
