Stoke have also launched their own investigation.
The Football Association have 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 and thanked those who respected his decision.
McClean addressed the abuse he got on Saturday in an Instagram statement later that night https://t.co/AdpTJ0bAm8
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) November 5, 2018
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.”
According to the BBC, the FA will look into McClean’s post and his remark that some of Stoke’s fans are “uneducated cavemen.”
McClean was 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 stating 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 and the winger’s social media post.
Most Stoke fans appear to support his right to exercise free speech. But there will always be a minority who aren’t as tolerant and a few of those were present at the game on Saturday.
