Sunderland fans are under investigation by the FA following chanting towards Wigan Athletic midfielder James McClean, i understands.
During Saturday’s 2-1 victory for the Black Cats, footage circulating on social media showed a section of the Stadium of Light crowd singing “f*** the IRA” and jeering touches by the Republic of Ireland international.
In response, the 33-year-old posted a message on Instagram saying: “I would be lying if I was to say i expect anything to be done about this by the FA, EFL (history shows this) but here is another chance – and I certainly don’t expect any action to be taken by Sunderland themselves given they did nothing when I was their player.”
Sources told i the FA is now trying to establish whether the chants – which McClean says included “f*** the Pope” and being called a “Fenian c***” – meet their criteria for discrimination. That includes determining whether “mass chanting” took place.
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“The FA looks into any alleged discriminatory language or behaviour that is reported to us, and we work closely with the clubs and relevant authorities to ensure appropriate action is taken.”
In a statement, Sunderland said the club has a “zero-tolerance policy against all forms of discrimination”.
“The club is committed to providing an inclusive, family-friendly environment at the Stadium of Light and strongly condemns any supporter found to be engaging in any form of discriminatory behaviour,” they added.
“Whilst the majority of fans behave impeccably when supporting SAFC, there have been multiple incidents during the 2022-23 season that are unacceptable and have resulted in ejection, stadium bans and criminal investigations.
“Everyone attending, working or taking part in a football match at the Stadium of Light has the right to feel safe, valued and included and the club encourages all supporters to continue to play their part.”
The player under contract at Sunderland, his first club in English football, when he first declined to wear a poppy to commemorate Remembrance Day, referencing his Irish nationalist background. McClean is from Derry, where British soldiers shot dead 14 civilian protestors on “Bloody Sunday” in 1972.
He has previously accused Sunderland of “hanging him out to dry” by refusing to allow him to speak publicly about his reasons for first not wearing the poppy in 2012.
“For my son who is seven-years-old and watches every Wigan game, to be asking his mother ‘why are they booing and singing that song at Daddy?’ and to have to tip-toe around answering him is something which should not be happening,” McClean added in his post.
“This post is not one of sympathy (trust me it’s not wanted) but one of anger. Considering every single year we have an FA representative come into each club to discuss the same old crap they spew to us about discrimination, every single year I challenge them on the abuse, every single year they do nothing… I should not have to report every single incident when clearly they can all hear what I hear and they should be doing their job by taking action!”
The FA, EFL and police officers have previously met with him to discuss sectarian abuse.
In 2015, Scottish footballer Kirk Broadfoot, then with Rotherham United, was given a 10-game ban, fined £7,500 and required to undertake an education programme after insulting McClean. In 2020, Barnsley FC were also fined and told to implement an “action plan” after their fans were found guilty of discrimination against McClean, who was playing for Stoke City at the time.
The club admitted “failing to ensure that its spectators, and all persons purporting to be its supporters or followers, conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and refrained from using abusive and/or insulting words which included a reference, whether express or implied, to nationality and/or religion and/or beliefs while attending the fixture.”
McClean said on Sunday that he had endured “eight years of sickening abuse” prior to posting a photo of himself in a balaclava pretending to teach his children a “history lesson” during the Covid lockdown.
Wigan chairman Talal Al Hammad wrote on Twitter on Monday: “As a club, we are doing everything in our power to stop this from happening, however more importantly as mature adults, this should not be happening.
“Your behaviour is watched by those younger than you, children, teenagers; the younger generation and is a disgraceful demonstration of how one should behave. So much emphasis and effort is put into the younger generation and the prevention in bullying- How can we teach kids to not bully other children as school when adults are doing it themselves.
“Hurting a human emotionally is as equal as hurting them physically; how come physical abuse has consequences but this doesn’t? More times than not, action is only taken when it’s too late, when a person has been hurt either by other ‘adults’ or by themselves after enduring emotional and mental abuse.
“It is shameful and disgusting and needs to stop.”
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