James McClean has hit out at the Football Association of Ireland following a “disgusting, pathetic and insulting” error in their matchday programme.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
- Ireland's women's team in action against Wales
- Suffered agonising defeat in Euro 2025 play-off
- Official publication generated more controversy
| Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱 |
-
WHAT HAPPENED?
Ireland’s women’s team were in Euro 2025 play-off action against Wales on December 3, with that contest taking place at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin – as the visitors secured a 3-2 aggregate success. An official publication produced for the fixture has left ex-Republic of Ireland international McClean fuming.
Advertisement
-
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Within the matchday programme was a map highlighting where all of the players in Eileen Gleeson’s squad hail from. The geographical image used included the listing of ‘Londonderry’, rather than ‘Derry’ – which is preferred by nationalists in Ireland.
Instagram
-
WHAT MCCLEAN SAID
McClean, who is fiercely proud and protective of his roots, has hit out at the error on social media. The Wrexham captain said in a post which included a picture of the map in question: “The match programme at last night’s Ireland vs Wales game at the Aviva Dublin…disgusting, pathetic, insulting, hang your heads in shame you shower of arseholes.”
- Getty
DID YOU KNOW?
The FAI has acknowledged the “error” and said in an apologetic statement: “The wrong graphic was inadvertently used in an Ireland Women’s National Team match programme, this was a genuine mistake and the Football Association of Ireland apologises for any offence caused.”
