Poppy snub McClean´s ´personal choice´

Sunderland reiterated their full support for the Poppy Appeal despite James McClean’s refusal to wear a specially commissioned shirt.

For Remembrance Sunday, English Premier League players have been requested to wear shirts embroidered with poppies over the weekend in order to pay tribute to servicemen lost in war.

But Derry-born McClean opted to wear a shirt without the symbol in his team’s 2-1 loss to Everton at Goodison Park and has attracted criticism from observers for his decision.

Sunderland have now moved to underline their commitment to the campaign, describing McClean’s snub as a ‘personal choice’.

A Sunderland spokesman said: “As a club Sunderland AFC wholeheartedly support the Remembrance Commemorations. It was James’s personal choice not to wear a shirt on this occasion.”

The 23-year-old is yet to explain the reasoning behind the move.