JAMES MCCLEAN has received dispensation to leave a football pitch via the shortest route to the tunnel, according to multiple UK media outlets.
Since the 2019-20 campaign, rules have stated players must leave the field closest to the nearest touchline or goal line.
However, reports say the English Football League (EFL) has written to its members announcing the dispensation has been granted to the ex-Irish international.
The news comes following incidents in which McClean has been targeted by rival fans with abuse and missiles.
The EFL, McClean’s club Wrexham and referee body PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) have subsequently discussed the matter
According to the Daily Mail, a message to club safety officers reads: “You will be aware that James McClean is often on the receiving end of abuse from some sections of support.
“This has, in the past, resulted in FA sanctions against the Club due to the chanting becoming racially, or religiously motivated and therefore, classed as a hate crime. Missiles have also been thrown.
“It has now been agreed that on occasions in the future when Mr McClean has to leave the field of play, for whatever reason, he will leave by the shortest route towards the tunnel. This process will help to reduce these incidents and also help to manage Mr McClean’s departure from the pitch without incident.”
Players facing similar issues are also set to be afforded dispensation.
McClean’s well-documented reasons for not wearing a poppy on Remembrance Day have attracted controversy in Britain for several years.
It is just over a decade since the Derry native originally wrote a letter on his then-club Wigan’s website outlining his stance on not wearing a poppy.
What a cop out by the English FA. If a player of another ethnic origin had to escape from the field of play each week to avoid abuse and objects being thrown at him the offending clubs would be playing behind closed doors. Jimmy is Irish so it’s ok to fudge their own rules on racism and discrimination.
@Cormac Loughnane: Poor Jimmy has also glorified a terrorist organisation in the past, on his Instagram, with his kids..
@Cian O: Naming a Wolf Tones song as your favourite is no more glorifying a terrorist organisation that the Womens football team singing in their dressing room. He refuses to wear the poppy because it is worn to remember all fallen soldiers, including those who died killing Irishmen and women in Derry. The targetted abuse by football supporters is not deserved and whilst I don’t think it is racist, it is sub-human.
@Paul Ennis: I’m referring to him wearing a balaclava as he was supposedly teaching his kids a history lesson.
@Cian O: . He apologised for that photograph.
@Cian O: He apologised, admitted it was a crude joke and that he shouldn’t have done it. Your assertion that the misjudged insta post makes him somewhat deserving of the abuse is ridiculous and the quintessential definition of victim blaming.
If the UK education system taught their kids Anglo Irish history and stopped ignoring what happened in Ireland for 100′s of years, these m0r0n’s that give McLean abuse would understand his stance. Never going to happen though. He should be applauded instead of abused.
@Kevin Dillon: they know mcleans situation. It’s been explained to them 100 times at this stage. Some of them(not all) simply don’t care.
@Kevin Dillon: I came through that education system and I can tell you first hand it’s not just the Irish situation that’s avoided, it’s stuff all over the Empire. Simply not mentioned. Maybe it’s different now.
The Brits are obsessed with the poppy.
Easier solution for the FA…they certainly don’t want to address the actual issue here!!