Republic of Ireland player James McClean has been suspended by his club Stoke City with immediate effect having failed to adhere to Covid-19 regulation currently in place across Britain.
McClean was seen boxing with a trainer at a private gym in a video that has circulated online, something that is not allowed under current restrictions put in place by Boris Johnson’s government.
Stoke will now hold a disciplinary hearing in an attempt to come to an appropriate resolution for all parties involved in the incident. McClean will not be available to manager Michael O’Neill for the Potters’ game with Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.
A statement on Stoke City’s official club website read: “Stoke City can confirm that James McClean has been suspended with immediate effect pending a disciplinary hearing into an alleged breach of Covid-19 regulations, namely training in a private gym.”
McClean won Stoke’s Player of the Year award last year and the 31-year-old has impressed for the Championship club since former Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill got the top job at the Bet365 Stadium. The former Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion winger has made 26 appearances for City this season.
McClean has been embroiled in controversy since he signed for Stoke in the summer of 2018. In March, he posted an image of himself online wearing a balaclava while in the company of his children. He has also been vocal about his annoyance regarding the lack of action taken against people who have abused him online.
