The issue is brought up year after year when Remembrance Sunday approaches, and once again the media have taken aim at James McClean for refusing to conform.

I think, however, he should be respected for not wearing the poppy, and here’s why.

On Saturday, the former Sunderland and Wigan player started for West Brom against Leicester City as the Foxes won 3-2. Prior to the game, much of the talk surrounding the game was not the game itself, or the impressive form of England striker Jamie Vardy. Instead, everyone ran with the same, monotonous story about McClean venting his right to do as he pleases in a democracy.

Remembrance Sunday is defined as a day “to commemorate the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women in the two World Wars and later conflicts”. And that’s where the problem starts.

Some Irish people would be more than happy to commemorate the two World Wars and in particular, the First World War, due to the significant number Irish men who fought alongside the British Army and lost their lives so we could have the freedom we have today.

Others might not be so inclined to wear the poppy as Britain imposed conscription onto Ireland in 1918 when many did not agree, support or share the same values as the British Empire and didn’t want to fight for British freedom whilst being imposed upon and having their own freedom taken from them.

The commemoration of “later conflicts” though, is where problems arise with many Irish people. And for the 26-year-old, the conflict that took place on the streets of Ireland and Derry, his hometown, lies very close to his heart.

Bloody Sunday (January 30th, 1972) will forever be remembered as the day innocent and unarmed men, women and children were shot at during a protest against internment. In total, 26 people died either instantly or months later after succumbing to the injuries they sustained.

Wearing the poppy would glorify the murder of innocent lives and show complete disrespect for those who did nothing wrong. Worst of all, no one has ever been brought to justice for the heinous crimes committed on that day. Yet many people see him as being anti-British for having a different view of the poppy, which is frankly narrow-minded to not see it from his point of view.

After all, it was a democracy that the British Army and many others fought for in World War One and Two, so why should people be ridiculed for doing something well within their rights. In a free country, people have views and opinions that others don’t agree with, and that’s part of the cornerstone of democracy – the freedom of speech.

To put it into some kind of context that many British people could relate to, it would be like wearing a symbol to respect the Wehrmacht. It would go against everything you believe in, so why would you respect Germans that killed British soldiers.

There are those from Ireland who do wear the poppy, notably Seamus Coleman and Shane Long, who in recent years have both worn it on their respective jerseys. And within their rights to wear the poppy, as it is other people’s rights to not wear it.

McClean has made statements in consecutive years and has said all this, but people still refuse to respect what he chooses to believe in. He was left hung out to dry by Sunderland, who seem to forget freedom of speech exists in England and people can hold these views.

Love him or hate him as a player, McClean deserves respect as a man from everyone, for sticking to what he believes in. He is not committing any crimes by not wearing the poppy, so what is so inherently wrong with refusing to wear it? If you can’t respect someone for doing what they believe, then you are a bit naïve.