James McClean given rule exemption to increase safety from abusive fans
The EFL has told the safety officers of its 72 clubs to afford the Wrexham captain an exemption from the current rules that states that players should leave the field of play using the nearest touchline or goal line
James McClean will be allowed to leave the pitch using the shortest route to the tunnel for his safety, according to a letter written by the English Football League.
The EFL has told the safety officers of its 72 clubs to afford the Wrexham captain an exemption from the current rules that states that players should leave the field of play using the nearest touchline or goal line.
Instead, to decrease McClean's exposure to abusive supporters and dangerous situations, the Derry native will be allowed to take a direct route to the tunnel.
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The letter, first reported by the Daily Mail, reads: "You will be aware that James McClean is often on the receiving end of abuse from some sections of support.
"This has, in the past, resulted in FA sanctions against the Club due to the chanting becoming racially, or religiously motivated and therefore, classed as a hate crime. Missiles have also been thrown.
"It has now been agreed that on occasions in the future when Mr McClean has to leave the field of play, for whatever reason, he will leave by the shortest route towards the tunnel.
"This process will help to reduce these incidents and also help to manage Mr McClean's departure from the pitch without incident."
McClean has previously claimed that he receives “more abuse than any other player in England” and has accused the English football authorities of turning a blind eye.
After abusive chants were directed towards him when playing for Wigan Athletic against Sunderland in 2022, McClean said: "I would be lying if I was to say I expect anything to be done about this by the FA or EFL."
The EFL directive comes after McClean, 35, was criticised by some for refusing to wear a poppy for Remembrance Sunday earlier this month.
McClean, who grew up on Derry's Creggan estate, the homeplace of six of the 14 people killed in the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre, responded to the criticism using social media.
The former Republic of Ireland international wrote: "I have addressed this matter many times, not that I should have to, but explaining it now on social media out of respect for work colleagues, team mates past and present, fans who have supported me (Wigan, Wrexham especially) for them to have a full understanding.
"The poppy represents for me an entirely different meaning to what it does for others, am I offended by someone wearing a poppy? No absolutely not, what does offend me though, is having the poppy forced upon me.
"The poppy which originally stood for World War I and II has now been adopted into honouring and remembering British soldiers that have served in all conflicts throughout the world including those who opened fire and murdered 14 innocent civilians on Bloody Sunday Jan 1972, in my home city, as well many other brutal crimes throughout Ireland.
"That is why I never have and never will wear a poppy. If the poppy’s sole purpose was to honour World War I and II then I would have no issue wearing it, but that's not the case."
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