Wrexham star McClean punches rival team fan in car park

Wrexham footballer James McClean has admitted punching a Cardiff City fan in self defence after being confronted before a match.

McClean, who plays as a winger for the club, said a group of rival fans “started running their mouths off” at him as he was getting out of his car in the players’ car park.

Wrexham AFC said the incident happened before the two clubs faced each other in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup at The Racecourse on 28 October.

He said: “Somehow, there were four male Cardiff fans, also late 20s, early 30s.

“They recognised me, [and] immediately started running their mouths off at me. I ignored the first jibe.

“The second, I responded to, and I confronted them about it.

“Words were said. One of them, a tall chap with glasses, made a hostile move towards me.”

McClean added: “People need to understand just because we play football doesn’t mean people can try and take liberties without their actions having consequences.

“That was it. Nothing further happened. And the situation was dealt with.”

The game kicked off at 20:00 GMT and saw Cardiff City win 2-1 to secure a spot in the quarter final against Chelsea at home on 16 December.

Wrexham said the incident was “reported to the relevant authorities” and declined to provide any further comment.

Cardiff City FC said it has not received a formal complaint “from any supporter”, adding it has not been approached by Wrexham or North Wales Police.

The Northern Irish-born player was the subject of verbal abuse earlier this year, when Lincoln City fans aimed anti-Catholic chants at him during a match on 3 May.

The club was fined £8,500 by the Football Association for failing to control supporters.

McClean, 36, grew up in Derry and has previously said he learnt how to make petrol bombs at 11 years old because of the riots.

He has refused to wear a poppy because of Bloody Sunday – when 13 people were shot dead and at least 15 others injured when members of the Army’s Parachute Regiment opened fire on civil rights demonstrators in Derry in 1972.