James McClean: Sectarian abuse ‘has simmered right down’ since action was taken

James McClean says that sectarian abuse aimed at him in football grounds has “simmered right down” since the authorities began taking belated but decisive action to deal with a problem which has dogged the Derryman’s career in England ever since he first took a public stand against wearing the poppy on his club shirts.

McClean has previously been critical of what he saw as the FA’s lack of meaningful support but, following their decision to charge Barnsley over chants directed at the player in November — and with Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield investigating similar abuse by sections of their own support — the Ireland international and Stoke City winger reported that he has noticed a significant improvement on the ground.