McClean entered English football with Sunderland in 2011 but was often abused by fans over his refusal to wear a poppy on Remembrance Sunday. He thus refuses to wear the poppy because he believes it commemorates all British military activity, not just the soldiers of the World Wars. But ever since he first refused to wear the poppy at Sunderland, he has been subjected to abuse. Last year, he revealed he was making and throwing petrol bombs at the age of 11 and feared he would be shot after refusing to wear a Remembrance Day poppy. 'That night I met up with Ireland, the club had received threats that basically I was going to be shot.

Source: Metro January 20, 2026 18:45 UTC