"West Bromwich" winger James McClean revealed that he had received death threats. The reason for this - his decision to play for Ireland, not the Northern Ireland national team.
The 28-year-old footballer grew up in Derry and represented the Northern Ireland U-21 team, but ultimately chose the national team of neighbors.
McClean has faced various criticisms in the past - once he refused to wear a poppy to honor those killed in World War I, and he also turned his back on the United Kingdom's national anthem.
"In the dressing room, I was just myself. Nobody cared about that," McClean told BBC Sport. "Suddenly my remarks ended up in newspapers."
"I am still the same person - I wouldn't want to change. If you like it, you like it, and if not - then not. In the newspapers, it is written that I support the IRA (separatist group in Ireland - ed.), but it is like this that if you see something in the newspapers, you believe it whether it is true or not. I was very fortunate with my coaches, they believed in my version of the story."
"I have received death threats and many people saw me as anti-British. I want to publicly say that I was never anti-British. There are certain things that I do not agree with, but I appreciate all people."
"I have received numerous death threats, which started when I chose the Republic (Ireland). I represented Northern Ireland at youth level. I never hid the fact that I used the system to improve myself, but I never had plans to play for Northern Ireland. I received death threats for choosing my country."
During his career, McClean has played 48 matches for the Ireland national team, scoring eight goals.
