Footballer James McClean is understood to have closed his Twitter account after receiving sectarian abuse following his Euro 2012 call-up for the Republic of Ireland. Some of the messages directed at the Londonderry man on Twitter also contained threats. Northumbria police have said they have received no complaints about the abuse from McClean's club Sunderland. They said any complaints would be passed to the PSNI. A spokesperson for the PSNI said on Tuesday: "We don't discuss individual cases, however, if we receive information that a person's life may be at risk we will inform them accordingly. We never ignore anything which may put an individual at risk." The 23-year-old, a former Northern Ireland U-21 player, discovered on Monday that he had been included in Giovanni Trapattoni's team for next month's finals. He said he was thrilled at the call-up. McClean tweeted: "Absolutely honoured and couldn't be happier to have been called up to represent my country at the Euros. No better feeling." He later told the Mail: "To be called up to represent Ireland has always been a personal dream of mine and to be associated with players who I have watched myself is very special. "I can't wait to join up with the squad and start to focus on the Championships." His news was met with messages of congratulations, but also some posts containing sectarian abuse and threats to kill. Some of the messages have since been deleted. McClean, who carries an Irish passport, made a general response following the abuse on Twitter. He tweeted: "Love the dogs' abuse am gettin off shock N.I fans, just worry about watchin ur own country at the euros... oh wait #mybad #awkward haha." However, it is understood he has now decided to close his Twitter account. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-18003874 Should sportsmen use Twitter and other forums?
How come he can play for the Republic senior side having already played for NI's u-21s? I thought that once you represented a country at anything above schoolboy level, you couldn't change your mind? His reply doesn't do him any favours though. Why mock the majority in response to the minority? Silly boy.
I don't see why they need to use it. It usually causes more trouble than good. "Absolutely honoured and couldn't be happier to have been called up to represent my country at the Euros. No better feeling." Born in Derry/Londonderry in the county of Londonderry in the country of Northern Ireland. Who did he think he was representing when he was working his way up through the youth teams? That's a bit of an issue here. If you are born in Northern Ireland you can qualify for a British or Irish passport meaning you can play for either the Republic of ireland or Northern ireland team. Most catholic football fans in northern ireland support RoI so if they want to play for them fair enough. The thing that is the real sticking point is these kids representing N.I all the way through youth levels and then jumping ship to play for RoI in the hope of playing in an international tournament.
Maybe they've seen what happens to Catholic players who decide to stick with Northern Ireland. http://www.4ni.co.uk/northern_ireland_news.asp?id=7579
Exactly. I thought that once you'd made your bed, you had to lie in it. I know about the passport thing, but surely that doesn't entitle players like McLean to swap and change as they choose.
Shane Ferguson, Ryan McGivern, Sammy Clingan, Chris Baird, Liam Boyce in the current setup. Pat Jennings, Mal Donaghy, Michael Hughes, Martin O'Neill, Gerry Armstrong, Damien Johnson, Jim Magilton, Gerry Taggart, Michael O'Neill all former catholic players that were fan favourites. Sadly thats the way it works and if RoI are more likely to qualify for a tournament then there will be more young players with huge egos willing to jump ship.
<YAWN> The FAI cannot organise in the North, hence young players play for the IFA youth teams. Let the FAI organise in the North and problem solved. As long as you don't play a competitive senior game you are not tied down. The IFA took it all the way to FIFA and then the CAS and were slapped down. NI have done nothing to make young Irish men welcome from playing GSTQ to flying the Union Jack they make it very clear that they are a British team for British people. They have made their bed. As for the list of players from Medro, McCourt and McGinn recieved bullets in the post last year from NI for their efforts and Martin O'Neill once said that he has been booed many times playing football but only ever booed onto his own pitch by his own supporters playing for NI. If those players had been able to avail of this ruling any of those players good enough would have not played for NI.
Why would the IFA let FAI into Northern ireland to take even more footballers away? How would that help? McCourt and McGinn received bullets from some dunder head moron, not once have they received any stick on the pitch from the N.I fans because of their religion or who they play for. GSTQ & the union flags are displayed at N.I games because believe it or not, that is OUR national anthem and flag. Shocking I know! As I said if you're born here then play for whoever you want but it doesn't help like Jip Jap said to mouth of at that majority when it's a minority hurling abuse.
Medro, it's YOUR anthem and flag not mine or a very sizable minority. You cannot see the wood for the trees and neither can the IFA and players will continue to switch. I couldn't give a monkeys what flags you wave or songs you sing. Some players do though, and the IFA and the NI team will suffer. Sitting at number 100 now and that will certainly not get much better looking at the qualifying group. You actually put your finger on it above. People grow up supporting Ireland, they will then want to play for Ireland if they are good enough and stories like the above only make that more so. Why would you grow up supporting ROI then only play for them 'cos of your ego? You are arse about face on that one.
Just do like they do in rugby, or advertising or whisky (Irish spelling?) Bring a multitude of different flags and make tell me ma the national anthem
The reason I mentioned they did it because of their ego was because players like Shane Ferguson who contemplated jumping ship actually believe they are good enough to play for RoI. To be honest I couldn't care less about international football. Never have done. But if these players did not want to represent N.Ireland at youth level they have option of saying so. At no time are they forced out on to the pitch to play.
Why do players like McLean play for NI in the first place then? Why not decline the u-19/u-21 call-up if he wants to play for the Republic?
I already answered this Jip. There is no FAI set up in the North. Allow the FAI to set up and problem solved.
You are applying what one person does and thinks to another person, it doesn't work like that. People are not cardboard cut outs. Anyway, Ferguson was holding out for a call up from the FAI, using the press to let them know, and it never came, believe that or not.
That's not an answer. Letting the FAI operate in N.I is like letting the SFA operate in England. The real reason McLean played for the youth teams is because he didn't know what level he would reach. Now that he seems to have played a few good games for Sunderland he decides to jump ship to RoI. Guarantee that if he was still at Derry City or another team not in the EPL he would be happy enough to play for N.I.
It isn't like letting the SFA operate in England. People from NI have a right to dual nationality, you mightn't like it but it impacts on stuff like sport. That other part is neither here nor there though. Fact is that Nationalists who are good enough will play for Ireland and those like McGinn and McCourt will maybe play for NI. Some, like Euan O'Kane(sp) who have no chance of getting a call up from the FAI will say they want to play for Ireland just to opt out of playing for NI as they don't fancy it. It's pretty stark and a bit pish for NI fans but it's were we are.
And I understand that. But if McLean was/is an RoI fan and has been since a lad why has he and many others opted to play for N.I at youth level and then jump ship? Why not just refuse to be called up. As for the FAI in N.I, that would only weaken the N.I team. What would be the point in that? No benefit to N.I whatsoever.
