Republic of Ireland winger James McClean has received death threats after being included in Giovanni Trappatoni’s squad for Euro 2012.
McClean played at under-21 level for his native Northern Ireland, a British-controlled province, but took the controversial decision to “cross the border” and pursue a senior international career with the independent Republic.
The 23-year-old, a rising star with English Premier League side Sunderland, was included in veteran Italian manager Trappatoni’s squad on Monday after just one substitute appearance for the side.
McClean told the Daily Mail: “To be called up to represent Ireland has always been a personal dream of mine and to be associated with players who I have watched myself is very special. I can’t wait to join up with the squad and start to focus on the championships.”
Irish state law allows anyone born in Northern Ireland to accept public office in the Republic and, consequently, the rules of the Football Association of Ireland, which is only responsible for the game south of the border, allow any player born on the island of Ireland to represent the Republic.
McClean’s announcement was met with some messages of support, but also sectarian abuse and death threats.
The population of Northern Ireland is largely Protestant, with Catholics in a minority, whereas the situation is reversed in the Republic.
McClean responded to the attacks by tweeting: “Love the dogs’ abuse am gettin off shock N.I fans, just worry about watchin ur own country at the euros ... oh wait #mybad #awkward haha.”
A Police Service of Northern Ireland spokesman told the BBC on Tuesday: “We don’t discuss individual cases, however, if we receive information that a person’s life may be at risk, we will inform them accordingly. We never ignore anything which may put an individual at risk.”
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was
RALLY: It was only the second time the Taiwanese has partnered with Kudermetova, and the match seemed tight until they won seven points in a row to take the last set 10-2 Taiwan’s Chan Hao-ching and Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova on Sunday won the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix women’s doubles final in Stuttgart, Germany. The pair defeated Norway’s Ulrikke Eikeri and Estonia’s Ingrid Neel 4-6, 6-3, 10-2 in a tightly contested match at the WTA 500 tournament. Chan and Kudermetova fell 4-6 in the first set after having their serve broken three times, although they played increasingly well. They fought back in the second set and managed to break their opponents’ serve in the eighth game to triumph 6-3. In the tiebreaker, Chan and Kudermetova took a 3-0 lead before their opponents clawed back two points, but