Championship side Barnsley have been fined £20,000 after being found guilty of sectarian chanting towards Stoke City winger James McClean.
Barnsley Receive FA Charge For Sectarian Chanting
Aimed Towards James McClean
The Tykes have been dealt the fine after an investigation into discriminatory chanting
The charge against Barnsley relates to a game that came in the lead-up to Remembrance Sunday.
Barnsley were subsequently charged with a breach of FA Rule E20.
A statement by The FA said: “Barnsley FC admitted failing to ensure that its spectators, and all persons purporting to be its supporters or followers, conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and refrained from using abusive and/or insulting words which included a reference, whether express or implied, to nationality and/or religion and/or beliefs while attending the fixture.”
The Tykes released their own statement, saying: “The Club will act upon the case findings and will continue to work closely with The FA and Kick It Out.
“Anybody found to be involved in any form of discriminatory behaviour when representing Barnsley Football Club face a potential ban from attending matches.”
Barnsley have also been made to implement an action plan to limit offences from taking place again.
Not the First Time for James McClean
McClean is often the subject of targeted abuse due to his refusal to wear a poppy on his shirt.
McClean chooses not to wear the poppy symbol due to his background as a Northern Irishman born in Derry.
The Northern Irish city was subject to the Bloody Sunday massacre of 1972.
This was when British soldiers shot at civilians, killing 14 and wounding others.
The winger regards the poppy as a symbol honoring British military personnel who have fought in all conflicts involving the British.
He is unwilling to wear the symbol due to potential interpretations.
He claims it be seen as disrespectful towards the Irish people who opposed the British.
McClean has taken this stance each year since he began playing in England in 2011.
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