Wrexham star James McClean has refused to apologise for joining in with an x-rated chant celebrating promotion to League One.
Like many Wrexham players, McClean celebrated with supporters on the pitch as the Dragons landed promotion from League Two at the weekend and are set for another summer party.
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Fans picked out the Ireland international in joyous scenes at the Racecourse Ground following a 6-0 thrashing over Forest Green on Saturday with supporters singing a chant about him not liking King Charles.
McClean, who has previously garnered attention for politely declining the option of having a poppy embroidered onto his shirt around Remembrance Day, admitted he sang along with the fans on social media.
Posting a screenshot of an article about the incident, the 34-year-old wrote: “Is this correct? Absolutely and I also sang along at the top of my lungs.”
Another caption read: “Do I make any apologies for doing so? Absolutely not.”
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McClean signed for Wrexham, who were a newly-promoted side, last summer after ending his second spell at Wigan. He has also played for Sunderland and West Brom in the Premier League as well as Stoke, while he has played 101 times for the Republic of Ireland.
Wrexham were visited by Prince William, heir to the throne and president of the FA in March where he was presented with a custom shirt from club co-owner Rob McElhenney.
He met players Ben Tozer and Luke Young and said: "It's a great success story you're building here, everything you've started and achieved it's fantastic, so onwards and upwards - it's exciting.
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"And anyone who's a true football fan wants to see you do well.”
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McClean, who was born into a catholic community in Northern Ireland, has suffered widespread abuse for opting out of wearing a poppy - as is his right - and has explained his position numerous times, telling critics he is none of the labels he has been accused of.
In 2014, he even wrote a letter to Wigan chairman, Dave Whelan, whom he played for at the time, citing Bloody Sunday when 13 unarmed civilians were killed during a civil rights march.
James McClean's letter
“For people from the North of Ireland such as myself, and specifically those in Derry, scene of the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre, the poppy has come to mean something very different.
“Please understand, Mr Whelan, that when you come from Creggan like myself or the Bogside, Brandywell or the majority of places in Derry, every person still lives in the shadow of one of the darkest days in Ireland’s history – even if like me you were born nearly 20 years after the event. It is just a part of who we are, ingrained into us from birth.
“Mr Whelan, for me to wear a poppy would be as much a gesture of disrespect for the innocent people who lost their lives in the Troubles – and Bloody Sunday especially - as I have in the past been accused of disrespecting the victims of WWI and WWII. It would be seen as an act of disrespect to those people; to my people.
“I am not a war monger, or anti-British, or a terrorist or any of the accusations levelled at me in the past. I am a peaceful guy. I believe everyone should live side by side, whatever their religious or political beliefs which I respect and ask for people to respect mine in return. Since last year I am a father and I want my daughter to grow up in a peaceful world, like any parent.
“I am very proud of where I come from and I just cannot do something that I believe is wrong. In life, if you’re a man, you should stand up for what you believe in.
“I know you may not agree with my feelings but I hope very much that you understand my reasons. As the owner of the club I am proud to play for, I believe I owe both you and the club’s supporters this explanation.”
The Royal British Legion, who organise the poppy appeal, have also given their backing to McClean and insist it is his personal choice whether to wear the symbol or not.
The orgnatisation has also condemned abuse levelled at him and the death threats his family receive.
“At the Royal British Legion we believe that discrimination, hatred and abusive behaviour in any form have no place in our society and should not be tolerated,” a statement said in 2021.
“The poppy is a universal symbol that represents sacrifices made in the defence of freedom, and so the decision to wear it must be a matter of personal choice. To insist that people wear a poppy would be contrary to everything that it stands for. We offer our full support to James for exercising his right to choose not to wear a poppy.”