James McClean has accepted a fine and agreed to delete his Instagram account after he posted a controversial story yesterday afternoon.
The post, which was quickly deleted, showed McClean sitting with his children whilst wearing a balaclava, with the caption reading 'today's school lesson - history'.
James McClean’s home schooling is something else pic.twitter.com/mf8EpbsUU6
— Elliot Hackney (@ElliotHackney) March 26, 2020
The post was not well received by many on social media, with his club now handing out a major punishment.
In a statement released on their website, Stoke City said McClean had been fined two weeks wages and has also agreed to delete his Instagram account.
Club statement - James McClean#SCFC 🔴⚪
— Stoke City FC (@stokecity) March 27, 2020
Stoke City can confirm that, following an internal disciplinary review, disciplinary action has been taken against James McClean for an inappropriate social media post.
McClean has been fined two weeks’ wages by the Club and has also agreed to delete his Instagram account.
The player has expressed contrition and recognises that the post was ill advised and offensive.
He said: “I never wanted to cause any offence but I now realise that I did so and for that I apologise unreservedly. I have spoken to the Club and will be deleting my Instagram account.”
The Club and the player will be making no further comment on the matter.
This is not the first time the Ireland international has been criticised for something he posted online. He was investigated by the FA in 2018 for calling some Stoke supporters 'uneducated cavemen' after they once again abused him for refusing to wear a remembrance poppy.
