James McClean is a player who always seems to be getting himself into some kind of trouble. The West Bromwich Albion winger is already set to be the talk of the town, next month, as he has already announced that he would not be wearing the poppy flower on his jersey on Remembrance Day.
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The Republic of Ireland international however, now could face an inquiry from the FA, for a gesture towards opposing fans, after his team beat Sunderland in a heated match.
McClean is said to have made clenched-fist signals towards a section of the traveling Sunderland fans, after the match, which ended in a controversial 1-0 victory for the Baggies, at The Hawthorns.
McClean, who used to play for Sunderland from 2011 to 2013, was reportedly abused by the visiting fans, who were singing ant-IRA songs directed at the Irishman.
After the match which ended in a 1-0 win for West Brom, McClean first went to a section of the home fans to celebrate, and then went over to the section of the Sunderland fans, who were directing the chants at the Irishman. He then proceeded to show a clenched fist towards the visiting fans. Black Cats striker Danny Graham immediately confronted him in what turned out to be an ugly brawl after the match.
McClean ultimately had to be guided away from the pitch by West Brom teammate Craig Gardner, but the Irishman could face an FA inquiry. An FA official said to The Telegraph, a It is all about the report. Only if the referee reports anything to us would we be likely to take further action.a
Meanwhile, McClean could also face internal disciplinary charges from West Brom. Baggies manager Tony Pulis said, a I didna t see what happened as I was already in the dressing room but I will look at it again and if I think James was out of order we will deal with it.a
In spite of this incident, however, McClean is reportedly unmoved on his stance about the display of the poppy flower on his jersey, on Remembrance Day. According to Daily Mirror, the winger will continue not wearing the badge.
Remembrance Day is observed as a mark of respect to all the members of the armed forces of the Commonwealth Nations, who had lost their lives in World War I.
Poppy flowers had bloomed across many of the battlefields, and the red colour of these flowers has come to be associated with all the bloodshed.
However, for McClean, who hails from Derry in Northern Ireland, the poppy flower holds a different significance. British soldiers had killed 13 civilians on a Bloody Sundaya , in 1972, at Derry, and the poppy flower is a reminder of this atrocity for the Irish.