James McClean has hit out at the Football Association of Ireland following a “disgusting, pathetic and insulting” error in their matchday programme.
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Ireland's women's team in action against WalesSuffered agonising defeat in Euro 2025 play-offOfficial publication generated more controversyFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Ireland’s women’s team were in Euro 2025 play-off action against Wales on December 3, with that contest taking place at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin – as the visitors secured a 3-2 aggregate success. An official publication produced for the fixture has left ex-Republic of Ireland international McClean fuming.
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Within the matchday programme was a map highlighting where all of the players in Eileen Gleeson’s squad hail from. The geographical image used included the listing of ‘Londonderry’, rather than ‘Derry’ – which is preferred by nationalists in Ireland.
InstagramWHAT MCCLEAN SAID
McClean, who is fiercely proud and protective of his roots, has hit out at the error on social media. The Wrexham captain said in a post which included a picture of the map in question: “The match programme at last night’s Ireland vs Wales game at the Aviva Dublin…disgusting, pathetic, insulting, hang your heads in shame you shower of arseholes.”
GettyDID YOU KNOW?
The FAI has acknowledged the “error” and said in an apologetic statement: “The wrong graphic was inadvertently used in an Ireland Women’s National Team match programme, this was a genuine mistake and the Football Association of Ireland apologises for any offence caused.”