Irish international football player James McClean writes passionate open letter explaining his refusal to wear a shirt with poppy in Wigan game as he is abused online for his stance

Republic of Ireland international James McClean, right, said he could not wear a poppy as it represented troops involved in conflicts since World War II such as the Northern Ireland troubles. In an open letter to Wigan club chairman Dave Whelan, McClean, right, said he, as someone from Derry, could not wear a poppy after the shooting dead of unarmed civil rights protesters in his home city in January 1972, left.