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FAI offer assistance to James McClean following latest threats

The FAI have offered their full support to James McClean and his family.  Erin McClean - the Rep...



FAI offer assistance to James...
Soccer

FAI offer assistance to James McClean following latest threats

The FAI have offered their full support to James McClean and his family. 

Erin McClean - the Republic of Ireland winger's wife - outlined the horrific online abuse that she and her family were being subjected to on a regular basis.

"We can take the name-calling and the rest," she wrote on social media, "But what we cannot accept is threatening our family home and our children's lives. They don't deserve this.

"Why, after nine years of constant abuse, should we be OK and have to accept receiving these threats constantly."

The FAI have responded in quick fashion, saying they have reached out to James McClean and assured him that the association will help in any way they can.

FAI CEO Jonathan Hill said, "The FAI remains committed to safeguarding all of our players against any form of abuse on any social media platform.

"To abuse or threaten James or any player because of his nationality should not be tolerated by society. Unfortunately, such behaviour is all too common now on social media.

"Only last week we commended the stance taken by English football against the abuse of footballers across all social media channels and we are examining how best we can take a similar stance.”

Intercultural Programme National Co-ordinator Des Tomlinson added, "The latest incident involving James and his family highlights how important this work is and why football needs to take action.

"In recent times many of our players have been victims of social media abuse, hate speech and threats including Jonathan Afolabi, Cyrus Christie and James.

"It is not acceptable and I will assure James of our full support as he deals with this.”

Erin McClean on abuse | ‘We cannot accept threats to our children’s lives’

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