Footballers who have refused to wear a poppy with Arsenal star among latest to snub Remembrance tribute

Arsenal Women left-back and Republic of Ireland captain Katie McCabe opted against having the symbol on her jersey during the Gunners' 4-1 victory over Leicester.

Brighton's Caitlin Hayes, Crystal Palace's Abbie Larkin and London City Lionesses' Hayley Nolan also followed suit, with all four players Irish internationals.

McCabe has historically worn a poppy on her shirt. However, according to reports, she opted against the tribute this time around for personal reasons.

While that's the case, however, she still partook in Arsenal's Remembrance silence prior to their empahtic victory over the Foxes.

However, McCabe, Hayes, Larkin and Nolan aren't the only footballers who have opted against wearing the poppy over the years.

James McClean is the most obvious example, with the 36-year-old currently strutting his stuff for Championship side Wrexham.

Before his time in Wales, the Republic of Ireland international had spells with the likes of Wigan Athletic, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland - as well as Derry City.

McClean has been criticised by fans for repeatedly refusing to wear the poppy. However, last November, he explained his decision by saying he feels the tribute represents conflict in Ireland, such as the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre.

That year, British soldiers killed unarmed civilians in his hometown in Derry.

McClean wrote: "The poppy represents for me an entirely different meaning to what it does for others.

"Am I offended by someone wearing a poppy? No absolutely not. What does offend me though is having the poppy [to be] forced upon me.

"The poppy which originally stood for World War I and II 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 I and II, then I would have no issue wearing it, but that's not the case."

McClean isn't the only example of a footballer refusing to wear a poppy.

Former Manchester United and Chelsea star Nemanja Matic also refused the memorial in 2018, saying the poppy was a personal reminder of the 1999 Nato bombing of Serbia. He was just 12 at the time.

Matic said: "I recognise fully why people wear poppies, I totally respect everyone's right to do so and I have total sympathy for anyone who has lost loved ones due to conflict.

"However, for me it is only a reminder of an attack that I felt personally as a young, frightened 12-year old boy living in Vrelo, as my country was devastated by the bombing of Serbia in 1999.

"Whilst I have done so previously, on reflection I now don't feel it is right for me to wear the poppy on my shirt.

"I do not want to undermine the poppy as a symbol of pride within Britain or offend anyone, however, we are all a product of our own upbringing and this is a personal choice for the reasons outlined.

"I hope everyone understands my reasons now that I have explained them and I can concentrate on helping the team in the games that lie ahead."

The British Legion, meanwhile, insist that it is someone's 'personal choice' to wear a poppy.

A statement on their website reads: "Wearing a poppy shows the Armed Forces community their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

"We often hear people debating the 'correct' way to wear a poppy, but the truth is, unless you're currently serving, there is no 'correct' way.

"It’s a matter of personal choice whether someone chooses to wear a poppy and how they choose to wear it.

"We simply ask that if you do wear a poppy, you wear it with pride."