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29th April 2017
02:29pm BST
As footballers go, James McClean is as divisive as any. The Derryman has courted controversy a number of times throughout his career. He irked many when he chose to represent the Republic of Ireland at international level instead of Northern Ireland and his continued refusal to wear poppies to mark Remembrance Day in the UK has won him admirers and haters alike.
Today, the 28-year-old appeared on Football Focus on the BBC and gave a wide-ranging interview about the aforementioned issues and how a series of abuse and death threats led to his decision to leave Sunderland in 2013.
The West Bromwich Albion midfielder went on to speak about the recent death of his friend Ryan McBride who he played with at Derry City as well as the Oxford Bulls football team who he recently helped to gain massive exposure.
The interview went down a storm and garnered a huge reaction online with some even changing their perception of the 47-times capped Ireland international.
The interview is not yet available online but should appear here later.
Cracking interview with James McClean on Football Focus ????
— Carl (@CRMW87) April 29, 2017
Brilliant interview with James McClean #wba
— Chris Payne (@ChrisPayne1212) April 29, 2017
Good interview with James McClean,Disgraceful that people give him death threats.#FootballFocus
— Daniel Sanderson (@DanielJ2203) April 29, 2017
James mcclean is a hero
— Paddy (@_Paddy_Smyth_) April 29, 2017
James McClean interview best one #FootballFocus have had in ages. @BBCSport
— Luke Bradshaw (@LukeBradshaw85) April 29, 2017
That was a great piece with James McClean.
— Stephen Long (@Stephen_Long) April 29, 2017
Say what you want about james McClean, but I actually respect him having understood his views on poppy gate. #footballfocus
— james arney (@j_arney) April 29, 2017
Brilliant interview from James McClean on football focus. Refreshingly honest, an absolute Irish hero. More footballers should be like him. pic.twitter.com/495N16Sx45
— YBIG (@YouBoysInGreen) April 29, 2017
@BBCSport Interesting interview with James McClean on #FootballFocus Gone a little way to changing my opinion of him.
— Neal (@Frankie3380) April 29, 2017
James McClean is just magnificent
— Mac Grimes (@6dutch) April 29, 2017
Good interview with James McClean,Disgraceful that people give him death threats.#FootballFocus
— Daniel Sanderson (@DanielJ2203) April 29, 2017
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