Why doesn’t James McClean wear a poppy for Remembrance Day?
The West Brom midfielder is set to once again refuse to have a Remembrance Day poppy embroidered on his shirt
JAMES McCLEAN will not wear a poppy if he plays against Huddersfield today.
McClean has received a barrage of criticism over the years for his stance on Remembrance Day.
At previous clubs Sunderland and Wigan, McClean also did not wear the commemorative shirt for either club when all other 21 players on the field did.
McClean had said of his refusal to not wear a poppy: "People say I am being disrespectful but don’t ask why I choose not to wear it.
related articles
"If the poppy was simply about World War One and Two victims alone, I'd wear it without a problem.
"I would wear it every day of the year if that was the thing but it doesn't, it stands for all the conflicts that Britain has been involved in.
"Because of the history where I come from in Derry, I cannot wear something that represents that."
Keep up to date with ALL the West Brom news, gossip, transfers and goals on our club page plus fixtures, results and live match commentary
The 27 year old has stood by his view that wearing a poppy would be a mark of disrespect to the area where he comes, despite receiving death threats for his decision.
Derry was severely affected by the Northern Ireland conflict, known as The Troubles. The conflict is considered by many to have begun in the city, with historians regarding the violent 1969 rioting, called the "Battle of The Bogside" as the beginning of the Troubles.
In 1972 14 people were killed in Derry in what became known as "Bloody Sunday".
Premier League clubs have been wearing the poppy for many years in the build up to Remembrance Day and nearer the day more clubs will wear the special shirt.