James McClean incident with Stockport fan under investigation

Telegraph

23-03-2025

A pitch-side confrontation in which a fan allegedly attempted to punch Wrexham captain James McClean will be scrutinised by the Football Association.
Police were said to have intervened after a Stockport County fan apparently attempted to attack the Irishman at half-time at the Racecourse Ground.
McClean faced abuse from visiting fans as he made his way to the tunnel area after a first half which had seen the Irishman help win his side a penalty.
Jay Rodriguez converted the rebound from an initially saved spot kick. The half-time confrontation took place after Stockport supporters took issue with McClean's prior appeals for the penalty after his header struck defender Ibby Touray's arm.
North Wales Police has yet to respond to requests for comment but Telegraph Sport understands the FA has been made aware of an alleged altercation. The incident will be looked at over the coming days.
McClean is a regular target for opposing fans, having repeatedly taken a firm stance against commemorations on Remembrance Day. After Saturday's match, he posted photographs of the team's win on Instagram stories and included one shot of him leaving the field apparently gesturing to visiting fans.
The Mirror had reported first that a fan had tried to punch McClean but no footage of the confrontation was immediately available on Sunday.
Stockport manager Dave Challinor failed to contain his frustration at officials over the penalty after the League One encounter between promotion-chasing rivals, which ended 1-0 to the hosts.
Replays showed the ball struck Touray's arm, but Challinor suggested that was only because he was thrown off-balance by McClean.
Challinor bemoaned a 'really, really poor decision' that he believed cost his team at least a point. 'First off, I'm not going to get myself into trouble over it by saying what I probably truly believe,' Challinor added.