James McClean explains why he punched Cardiff fan after bein

James McClean explains why he punched Cardiff fan after being 'confronted by four men'
Former Republic of Ireland international James McClean alleges that he was initially subjected to verbal abuse in the players' car park before one man moved towards him.

McClean who once again is refusing to wear the Poppy and will again cause controversy.

Wednesday 5th November 2025


Talk Sport


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The former Premier League winger was involved in an incident with rival supporters before the fourth-round tie at the Racecourse Ground on Tuesday, 28 October, which the Bluebirds won 2-1.

The 36-year-old has now claimed in a statement issued to talkSPORT that the fracas started after he was confronted by four Cardiff supporters outside the stadium after arriving in his car.


McClean alleges that he was initially subjected to verbal abuse in the players' car park before one man moved towards him. The ex-Republic of Ireland international said he took a swing at one of them before entering the ground



JAMES McCLEAN:

In a text message to White, he said: "What happened was I got out of my car in the players' car park. Somehow, there were four male Cardiff fans, also late 20s, early 30s. They recognised me [and] immediately started running their mouths off at me. I ignored the first jibe. The second, I responded to, and I confronted them about it.”

"Words were said. One of them, a tall chap with glasses, made a hostile move towards me. Like I've told you in previous interviews, Jim, I'm in my workplace, and I feel I should never feel threatened in that workplace. So instead, I wasn't waiting for him to make the first swing. So I did. Four men, one of me.”


He added: "People need to understand just because we play football doesn't mean people can try and take liberties without their actions having consequences. That was it. Nothing further happened. And the situation was dealt with. I hope that helps."

McClean was an unused substitute in Wrexham's defeat by Cardiff, which saw them miss out on a place in the Carabao Cup quarter finals. Will Fish scored the winner for the Bluebirds as the League One promotion-chasers knocked out their Championship rivals.

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Its only a controversy if when he doesn't wear a poppy because thats what others want it to be, I am not bothered if he wears one or not, its all about choice. There are probably thousands who also don't but no one goes up to them and confronts them about it.

Question is why would four grown adults want to confront him?

They were young lads and they didn't confront him, he called one of the lads a speccy tw*t who laughed in his face and he lost his rag and threw a punch, he trying to mask the fact he was the aggressor in this situation

They were young lads and they didn't confront him, he called one of the lads a speccy tw*t who laughed in his face and he lost his rag and threw a punch, he trying to mask the fact he was the aggressor in this situation

I believe you as I know so many other fans who say similar about him.

He goes out of his way to wind fans up

James McClean has revealed to @talkSPORT precisely what happened with Cardiff City fans before the Carabao Cup game

"What happened was I got out of my car in the players' car park.

“Somehow, there were four male Cardiff fans, also late 20s, early 30s. They recognised me, [and] immediately started running their mouths off at me. I ignored the first jibe. The second, I responded to, and I confronted them about it.

"Words were said. One of them, a tall chap with glasses, made a hostile move towards me.

“Like I've told you in previous interviews, Jim, I'm in my workplace and I feel I should never feel threatened in that workplace.

“So instead, I wasn't waiting for him to make the first swing. So I did. Four men, one of me.

“That was it. Nothing further happened. And the situation was dealt with. I hope that helps.”

They were young lads and they didn't confront him, he called one of the lads a speccy tw*t who laughed in his face and he lost his rag and threw a punch, he trying to mask the fact he was the aggressor in this situation

So he started randomly abusing four lads who had said nothing to him?

They were young lads and they didn't confront him, he called one of the lads a speccy tw*t who laughed in his face and he lost his rag and threw a punch, he trying to mask the fact he was the aggressor in this situation

100% this is true. McClean playing the victim is laughable he has anger issues.

Its only a controversy if when he doesn't wear a poppy because thats what others want it to be, I am not bothered if he wears one or not, its all about choice. There are probably thousands who also don't but no one goes up to them and confronts them about it.

Question is why would four grown adults want to confront him?

It's more than that with this piece of sh*t, he has let anyone and everyone know how much he despises the British military after he has had family killed many years ago but the same weasel has spent the WHOLE of his career making a very good living for himself from the very people he despises. If only one of the city fans had "sparked" him out.

They were young lads and they didn't confront him, he called one of the lads a speccy tw*t who laughed in his face and he lost his rag and threw a punch, he trying to mask the fact he was the aggressor in this situation

So he started randomly abusing four lads who had said nothing to him?

No someone said something just a bit of banter, the kid with the glasses laughed so mcclean said what you laughing at you speccy tw*t and the kid said you, and mcclean hit him then turned to the other kid and said do you want it as well you fat c**t and then stewards stepped in

Try punching anyone at your workplace and see what happens.

Footballers are deluded

Regardless McClean should have walked away. He is meant to be a professional footballer and should learn to ignore such abuse.

Now if he was attacked by one of them he has the right to defend himself, all of us have.

Regardless McClean should have walked away. He is meant to be a professional footballer and should learn to ignore such abuse.

Now if he was attacked by one of them he has the right to defend himself, all of us have.

Totally agree.

Don't remember the authorities going light on Cantona for his kung fu kick, and he was recieving worse abuse than McClean does.

They were young lads and they didn't confront him, he called one of the lads a speccy tw*t who laughed in his face and he lost his rag and threw a punch, he trying to mask the fact he was the aggressor in this situation

So he started randomly abusing four lads who had said nothing to him?

No someone said something just a bit of banter, the kid with the glasses laughed so mcclean said what you laughing at you speccy tw*t and the kid said you, and mcclean hit him then turned to the other kid and said do you want it as well you fat c**t and then stewards stepped in

So do you know why the Cardiff kid didn't want to press charges, cos that's assault.

They were young lads and they didn't confront him, he called one of the lads a speccy tw*t who laughed in his face and he lost his rag and threw a punch, he trying to mask the fact he was the aggressor in this situation

So he started randomly abusing four lads who had said nothing to him?

No someone said something just a bit of banter, the kid with the glasses laughed so mcclean said what you laughing at you speccy tw*t and the kid said you, and mcclean hit him then turned to the other kid and said do you want it as well you fat c**t and then stewards stepped in

So do you know why the Cardiff kid didn't want to press charges, cos that's assault.

All I heard him say is it's not worth all the hassle, as far as the lads were concerned it was done and dusted when the lad was asked if he wanted to take it any further and he said no

So there all a bit surprised Mcclean has come out in the press all defensive, for me he knows he was in the wrong and he's trying to cover his back

They were young lads and they didn't confront him, he called one of the lads a speccy tw*t who laughed in his face and he lost his rag and threw a punch, he trying to mask the fact he was the aggressor in this situation

So he started randomly abusing four lads who had said nothing to him?

No someone said something just a bit of banter, the kid with the glasses laughed so mcclean said what you laughing at you speccy tw*t and the kid said you, and mcclean hit him then turned to the other kid and said do you want it as well you fat c**t and then stewards stepped in

So do you know why the Cardiff kid didn't want to press charges, cos that's assault.

Wasn't there so I'm just making an assumption here.

But any legal case can be more trouble than it's worth. There's a court backlog so probably waiting at least two years for a minor offence, which this is.

Brings a lot of stress and not really worth it.

I was charged with an assault offence a long time ago and it only came to court a few weeks ago, and in the end we ended up settling it on the day with the solicitors before it got to the court room.

A lot of the time it really isn't worth pressing charges.

They were young lads and they didn't confront him, he called one of the lads a speccy tw*t who laughed in his face and he lost his rag and threw a punch, he trying to mask the fact he was the aggressor in this situation

So he started randomly abusing four lads who had said nothing to him?

No someone said something just a bit of banter, the kid with the glasses laughed so mcclean said what you laughing at you speccy tw*t and the kid said you, and mcclean hit him then turned to the other kid and said do you want it as well you fat c**t and then stewards stepped in

So do you know why the Cardiff kid didn't want to press charges, cos that's assault.

All I heard him say is it's not worth all the hassle, as far as the lads were concerned it was done and dusted when the lad was asked if he wanted to take it any further and he said no

So there all a bit surprised Mcclean has come out in the press all defensive, for me he knows he was in the wrong and he's trying to cover his back

I can understand his reason for not wanting to take it further, it's just a shame that McClean will now get away with it and may well do it again, especially if he thinks it won't be taken further.

Wrexham should investigate it and fine him.

They were young lads and they didn't confront him, he called one of the lads a speccy tw*t who laughed in his face and he lost his rag and threw a punch, he trying to mask the fact he was the aggressor in this situation

So he started randomly abusing four lads who had said nothing to him?

No someone said something just a bit of banter, the kid with the glasses laughed so mcclean said what you laughing at you speccy tw*t and the kid said you, and mcclean hit him then turned to the other kid and said do you want it as well you fat c**t and then stewards stepped in

So do you know why the Cardiff kid didn't want to press charges, cos that's assault.

Wasn't there so I'm just making an assumption here.

But any legal case can be more trouble than it's worth. There's a court backlog so probably waiting at least two years for a minor offence, which this is.

Brings a lot of stress and not really worth it.

I was charged with an assault offence a long time ago and it only came to court a few weeks ago, and in the end we ended up settling it on the day with the solicitors before it got to the court room.

A lot of the time it really isn't worth pressing charges.

Yeah I can understand it's not worth the hassle and worry which shouldn't be the case.

They were young lads and they didn't confront him, he called one of the lads a speccy tw*t who laughed in his face and he lost his rag and threw a punch, he trying to mask the fact he was the aggressor in this situation

So he started randomly abusing four lads who had said nothing to him?

No someone said something just a bit of banter, the kid with the glasses laughed so mcclean said what you laughing at you speccy tw*t and the kid said you, and mcclean hit him then turned to the other kid and said do you want it as well you fat c**t and then stewards stepped in

You know a lot about it.

What was the “banter?”

They were young lads and they didn't confront him, he called one of the lads a speccy tw*t who laughed in his face and he lost his rag and threw a punch, he trying to mask the fact he was the aggressor in this situation

So he started randomly abusing four lads who had said nothing to him?

No someone said something just a bit of banter, the kid with the glasses laughed so mcclean said what you laughing at you speccy tw*t and the kid said you, and mcclean hit him then turned to the other kid and said do you want it as well you fat c**t and then stewards stepped in

You know a lot about it.

What was the “banter?”

Ginger so and so or words to that effect nothing majorly bad and if I was paid 10 grand a week you could call me whatever you wanted and I'd smile happily lol