James McClean both abused and praised for turning away during God Save

The national anthem is not typically played at domestic matches or in European competition, but the U.S. national anthem is played before games stateside.

The Ireland global was a €2.5 million purchase by the club last month from Wigan, but it’s likely the club will take a very dim view of his apparent lack of respect for the British national anthem last night.

Irish soccer global James McClean, 26, has been the subject of more abuse on Twitter after he allegedly turned his back on a rendition of “God Save The Queen” during his club’s friendly in the United States.

You can see the incident occur from 3:30 in the video below.

The West Brom and Charelston players turn towards one end of the stadium, presumably where the Stars and Stripes and Union Flag are hanging, while McClean initially turns but then faces forward and bows his head.

McClean has previously explained his refusal to wear a poppy in an open letter to Wigan fans who were unhappy with his stance.

He has consistently refused to wear a poppy in the Premier League as part of the Remembrance Sunday commemorations.

The 26-year-old was raised in Derry, Northern Ireland where British soldiers murdered 13 civilian protestors during the “Bloody Sunday” shootings in 1972 and said the poppy had come to mean a “different thing” since the massacre.

“Mr Whelan, for me to wear a poppy would be as much a gesture of disrespect for the innocent people who lost their lives in the Troubles – and Bloody Sunday especially – as I have in the past been accused of disrespecting the victims of WWI and WWII”.

I am very proud of where I come from and I just can not do something that I believe is wrong.