Katie McCabe among a number of Irish players not to wear poppy during weekend fixtures

"McCabe started in Arsenal's 4-1 victory at Leicester City on Sunday, which was the latter's dedicated Remembrance fixture. Clubs traditionally have poppies stitched into players' shirts which are then auctioned off in support of the Royal British Legion, which supports military service, members, veterans and their families. But Republic of Ireland captain McCabe was one of several players who decided not to have the poppy on their shirt."

""The poppy represents for me an entirely different meaning to what it does for others," McLean said. "Am I offended by someone wearing a poppy? No absolutely not, what does offend me though, is having the poppy try be [sic] forced upon me. "The poppy which originally stood for World War 1 and 2 has now been adopted into honouring and remembering British soldiers that have served in all conflicts throughout the world including those who opened fire and murdered 14 innocent civilians on Bloody Sunday Jan 1972, in my home city, as well many other brutal crimes throughout Ireland. That is why I never have and never will wear a poppy. If the poppy's sole purpose was to honour world war 1 and 2 then I would have no issue wearing it, but that's not the case.""

McCabe started in Arsenal's 4-1 victory at Leicester City during Leicester's dedicated Remembrance fixture. Clubs traditionally have poppies stitched into players' shirts and auction them to support the Royal British Legion, which supports military service members, veterans and their families. Republic of Ireland captain McCabe was one of several players who chose not to wear the poppy this season. Brighton's Caitlin Hayes, Crystal Palace's Abbie Larkin and London City Lionesses' Hayley Nolan also declined to wear poppies. McCabe has worn a poppy in previous seasons but opted out this term while still taking part in the minute of remembrance. Wrexham captain James McClean has long refused to wear the poppy and stated that he views it as representing actions and events beyond the World Wars, including Bloody Sunday in 1972, which informs his decision.

Read at Irish Independent