Wrexham winger James McClean has said he punched a fan of Cardiff City in self-defence at the club’s car park before their recent Carabao Cup match.
Republic of Ireland international McClean, who was an unused substitute in the match on October 28 which Cardiff won 2-1, said a group of men “started running their mouths off” at him when he was leaving his car at the Racecourse Ground.
The 36-year-old messaged UK radio station talkSPORT to detail the incident, saying that words were exchanged between him and the group before he ‘made the first swing (punch)’ after a “hostile move” was made against him.
“What happened was I got out of my car in the players’ car park,” McClean’s message read.
“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.
“Like I’ve told you in previous interviews, Jim, I’m in my workplace and I feel I should never feel threatened in that workplace.
“So instead, I wasn’t waiting for him to make the first swing. So I did. Four men, one of me.”
McClean has not featured across Wrexham’s most recent six matches (Cody Froggatt/PA Images via Getty Images)
“I had a chat with James on the evening and it has been dealt with and that’s it,” Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson said after Wednesday’s draw at Portsmouth. “No more to say on that tonight.”
Parkinson added: “James has had an injection in his hip and has been playing on for weeks with it. We needed to get that right and we took the decision to do that yesterday.
To get him available for the weekend.”
The Athletic have approached Wrexham, Cardiff and North Wales Police for comment.
McClean’s message added that no further action was taken following the incident: “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. I hope that helps.”
McClean, who has scored eight goals in 89 appearances for Wrexham since his 2023 arrival from Wigan Athletic, has not featured in Wrexham’s most recent six matches and was not in the travelling squad for Wednesday night’s Championship away match at Portsmouth.
League one side Cardiff won last week’s cup tie 2-1 to progress to the quarter-final stage, earning an away draw at Newcastle United.