They have issued a warning.
The Football Association have issued James McClean with a warning for use of an “offensive word” in a social media post.
However, the governing body will take no disciplinary action against the Stoke City winger.
#Breaking Stoke’s James McClean has been warned by the Football Association for his use of an offensive word on social media but no further disciplinary action will be taken, the governing body has announced pic.twitter.com/CrxHXB0k1u
— PA Dugout (@PAdugout) November 5, 2018
According to the Mirror, the FA statement on McClean reads:
“Stoke City’s James McClean has been warned by The FA for his use of an offensive word on social media.
“We are satisfied that the rest of the player’s postings do not breach FA Rules and, therefore, no further disciplinary action will be taken.
“The FA adds that any discriminatory language or behaviour aimed at any person or persons of nationality or faith, as we understand may have been experienced by the player in this case, is unacceptable.”
A warning from FA for @JamesMcC_14 for his use of offensive word on social media. FA say 'any discriminatory language or behaviour' as they 'understand may have been experienced by the player is unacceptable."
— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) November 5, 2018
On Monday morning, the FA opened an investigation into James McClean’s Instagram post from Saturday evening.
Due to his decision to not wear a Remembrance Day poppy, the Stoke City winger was booed by a minority of the team’s supporters at the bet365 Stadium during the goalless draw with Middlesbrough.
In a post on social media following the game, McClean hit out at the “uneducated cavemen” who heckled him. He also thanked those who respected his decision.
He wrote:
“‘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. To the home fans that are actually educated and support me, thank you.
“To the section of uneducated cavemen in the left hand corner of the Boothen End Stand that want to song their Anti-Irish songs each game and call me a Fenian this and that, I am a PROUD FENIAN. No c**t will ever change that, so sing away.”
McClean was also booed and heckled by a small section of Middlesbrough’s fans following the game.
Just look at the intolerance and hatred on display all because James McClean refuses to wear a poppy. pic.twitter.com/SP8THxKWh8
— Crimes of Britain (@crimesofbrits) November 3, 2018
Stoke released a statement last week offering their support for McClean’s poppy stance.
According to The Stoke Sentinel, the club are planning an investigation of their own. They will look into the treatment of McClean by some supporters on Saturday and the winger’s social media post.
McClean had hit out at the FA for their investigation earlier on Monday.
On Instagram, he wrote:
“The FA are investigating me after Saturday’s game, for what exactly?
“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.
“They turn a blind eye and not a single word or condemnation of any sort.
“Huddersfield away last year while playing for West Brom where there was an incident with their fans which was on the game highlights, where the cameras clearly caught it, yet the FA when [a] complaint was made to them said there ‘was not enough evidence’.
“If it was a person’s skin colour or if it was anti-Muslim, someone’s gender, there would be an uproar and it would be taken in a completely 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 has yet to comment on their decision to warn him for use of “an offensive word” on social media.
