James McClean welcomes rule exemption by EFL to improve his safety
James McClean stood away from his team-mates during the minute’s silence for Remembrance Sunday. Pic: Gary Oakley/PA Wire.
James McClean says he was shocked to discover he has been given a special rule exemption by the English Football League to increase his safety but also that it is very welcome.
McClean will be allowed to leave the pitch using the shortest route to the tunnel in a bid to improve his safety, according to a letter written by the EFL.
The league has written to the safety officers at all 72 of its clubs to inform them of McClean’s exemption, with the Derry native and current Wrexham captain often on the end of abuse from supporters.
The same process can be introduced for other players should they face similar incidents of abuse rather than abiding by the usual routine which sees substituted players required to leave the field of play via the nearest touchline or goal line, a rule that was introduced ahead of the 2019-20 season in a bid to decrease time-wasting.
The former Republic of Ireland international has regularly been the targetted by local fans while playing in England since declining to wear a poppy on Remembrance Sunday in 2012, with multiple clubs being charged by the Football Association for misconduct following their behaviour towards the 35-year-old.
The letter sent by the EFL and reported by multiple outlets on Tuesday 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.”
And during an interview with talkSPORT on Wednesday, McClean admitted he was shocked by the development but admitted it was 'quite clearly' welcome.
"It's not something I've asked for, so it was quite a shock to see it to be honest. It's definitely welcome because, not just for me, but for anyone," said McClean, who recently had a cup of Bovril thrown at him away at Birmingham City as he made his way around the pitch after being substituted.
"I find that a very stupid rule anyway - leaving the pitch at the nearest exit - you're putting yourself in a situation where players have to walk around the outside of the pitch, and, especially, players playing away...and you can get idiots.
"It's very hard to control thousands of idiots if you're a steward or police if people wanna throw things, if people wanna shout abuse - not everybody can be controlled.
"It just takes away the [off] anything stupid happening really, common sense has prevailed let's say!"
"A couple of weeks ago the manager pulled me after the Birmingham incident that they were looking into doing something.
"As weeks have gone by I didn't hear anything, didn't really pay attention, to be honest, and then yesterday when it broke I've seen it like everyone else and it's welcome.
"That's a credit to the manager and the club because they've seen what's happened at Birmingham and they took action. Like I said, that's not something I've asked for but it's something that I welcome quite clearly.
"You'll get complete honesty from me, at the end of the day I'm there to do a job and in any way if I feel under pressure or threatened I'm gonna act upon it myself because I'm not dirty.
"So if someone was on the pitch, at the end of the day I'm protecting myself first-and-foremost, and that happens but I make no apologies for that because at the end of the day I'm there to play football - no one else has a right to be on the pitch.
"Especially if I feel my safety is endangered then I'm gonna act upon it, and like I said, I'll make no apologies for that because it should never be the case."
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