James McClean in spotlight again for anti-monarchy remarks
James McClean pictured with teammate Paul Mullin.
Republic of Ireland footballer James McClean is in the spotlight again for anti-monarchy remarks made after he appeared in a social media photo titled ‘and we hate the f***ing king’ during a boozy weekend in Las Vegas.
The Wrexham star, along with his teammate Paul Mullin, who saw their team promoted to League One last month, posed for a photo which Mullin then posted on Instagram. They were in Las Vegas, along with Wrexham owner Rob McElhenney and other teammates to celebrate Wrexham’s promotion.
The caption of the photo said: “’And we hate the f***ing King!’
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This was then re-posted by Irish winger McClean, who added the words ‘We serve no king or kaiser but Ireland! Sue me’. Both photos have since been deleted.
The comment was made just days after King Charles returned to public duties for the first time since he started undergoing treatment for cancer in February.
When contacted by this paper, Wrexham AFC declined to comment.
McClean, 35, from Derry, has a long and well-publicised dislike of the monarchy, having turned his back on the English national anthem while playing for the Republic of Ireland.
He also refused to wear a poppy during games played across Remembrance weekend.
The comments made on Instagram appear to have been a reference to an anti-monarchy chant which McClean admitted to singing after his side secured promotion last month.
A video emerged of McClean being serenaded by supporters by a song which features the line ‘he hates the f***ing King’, referencing his Republican stance. McClean himself joined in and appeared to be urging the crowd on.
Sharing a screenshot of an article on that incident on social media, McClean commented: ‘Is this correct? Absolutely and I also sang at the top of my lungs.’
He added: ‘Do I make any apologies for doing so? Absolutely not.’
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