[4evaabaggie]

"It's about time this country faced the reality of its bloody history of empire-building."

- Not till we get an apology from the Itis, the Scandinavians, and the Normans.

I had family tortured by the Romans, and I grieve for them every day. (This was 80 generations ago, but the pain just doesn't go away.)

Talksaft, good point well made, many countries many sects many religions have all sort to build empires and legacies for various reasons thoroughout history, but it is exactly that history. Times and values change, we as a nation have done good things and bad things in the name of God and patriotism, as has most of the world, does not make it right or wrong. Misguided beliefs cause death and suffering, tolerance and respect is the only answer. Have your views but do not use them or historical events to justify ill well or disgraceful behaviour. Let sport be sport and politics be ..... well crap that ruins everything else in truth

[BaggyBomber]

Wow you sound like my Dad.

I like the sound of your Dad.

To be fair he's a decent guy. He just has a habit of winding himself up over irrelevancies. 

McClean obviously does not think it's irrelevant.  Maybe, although somehow I doubt it, you may be interested in the attached article

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/footbal...eague.html

[Dingle-Dingle]

So this is irrelevent then.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham_pub_bombings

DD

[HarryJAllstarWBA]

At what point has he declared his support for the IRA?

[May68]

Baggy I read with interest the Telegraph article. It's main point seems to be the same argument several others have already posted on here, that being that McLean should basically sod off if he doesn't like the flag/national anthem and that he is a hypocrite for working and paying taxes here. To that I would say:
a) Everyone has to live and work somewhere. Playing professional football in a country doesn't mean you have to agree with its foreign policy or swear allegiance to its head of state. That seems like an unfair expectation on someone just for pursuing their career.
b) McLean (whether he likes it or not) is a citizen of the UK so he technically hasn't even moved to another country by living and working here. If he went back to where he came from (Northern Ireland) he would still be in the UK.

[BaggyBomber]

Baggy I read with interest the Telegraph article. It's main point seems to be the same argument several others have already posted on here, that being that McLean should basically sod off if he doesn't like the flag/national anthem and that he is a hypocrite for working and paying taxes here. To that I would say:
a) Everyone has to live and work somewhere. Playing professional football in a country doesn't mean you have to agree with its foreign policy or swear allegiance to its head of state. That seems like an unfair expectation on someone just for pursuing their career.    
b) McLean (whether he likes it or not) is a citizen of the UK so he technically hasn't even moved to another country by living and working here. If he went back to where he came from (Northern Ireland) he would still be in the UK.

I would have thought nothing of it if he had just stood quietly with the others of various nationalities.  He chose to do the political grandstanding, as he has previously, I understand.

[May68]

Maybe there is an element of grandstanding on his part. However the reason I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt with this and the poppy thing is that in both instances he was reacting to situations that were thrust on him. It isn't as if he goes around asking for trouble or mouthing off whenever he can. IMO there is no good reason for national anthems and poppies to be part of club football, and if they weren't then this would never have become an issue in the first place.

[wba_1996]

If the n*zi's weren't condemned by the German people after WW2 and you played football in the Bundesliga, would you wear a Swastika on your shirt in support of their fallen soldiers? Even if they had killed your grandad or bombed your home town?

[HarryJAllstarWBA]

Would actually be ashamed to be a WBA fan if we got rid of a player because of their religious/political views

[silverbaggie]

Would actually be ashamed to be a WBA fan if we got rid of a player because of their religious/political views

Did you feel that way when we sacked Anelka for his political gesture?

I'm starting to be ashamed to be a WBA fan due to the antics of some of the players whom have stirred up controversy for our Club.