James McClean has called for sectarian abuse to be taken as seriously as other forms of discrimination in a week when football chiefs have called on social media companies to tighten up.
The EFL, Premier League and PFA yesterday sent an open letter to the bosses of Facebook and Twitter with a four-point plan aimed at clamping down on online hate, the Stoke Sentinel reports.
Mark Zuckerberg and Jack Dorsey were told that their inaction has made the platforms 'havens for abuse' with 'a relentless flow of racist and discriminatory messages'.
But McClean, the Stoke City and Republic of Ireland midfielder, feels that abuse directed at him has been ignored.
He wrote on Instagram: "Banging my head against a brick wall here but look I have been doing that anyways for a long time so one more wont make a difference.
"So much coverage this past couple weeks about discrimination and the condemnation of it across media outlets, players, ex players etc which is great to see because its wrong and idiots should be held responsible for their actions and words as nobody should be subjected to that.
"Make no mistake about it or to take anything away from that but just to pose the question really, racism, gender, ethnic..the list of discrimination that goes on is unacceptable. Right, my question is here... is being abused for being Irish and anti-Irish abuse acceptable?
"Is it not popular enough to be seen to be acknowledged or spoken out about too? I have highlighted the abuse publicly on social media recently and the silence from everyone is deafening! If you are offended by me saying that then maybe that tells you something."
McClean - who also quoted Bobby Sands to say "We are not criminals, we are Irishmen! This the crime we stand accused." - decided to make a more public stand against abuse directed at him last season.
Barnsley were subsequently charged with spectators accused of 'abusive and/or insulting words which included a reference, whether express or implied, to nationality and/or religion and/or beliefs' during a game in November 2019.
Huddersfield vowed to launch an investigation when their New Year's Day clash with Stoke was halted, with a message over the public address that offensive behaviour would not be tolerated.
Kick It Out, the anti-racism charity, labelled chants unacceptable and urged the FA to investigate further reports from Stoke's draw with Millwall in January last year.
It added: "We have been in constant contact with Stoke City and James, as we continue to offer our full support.
"Greatest action must be taken by the authorities to safeguard his and his family's wellbeing, because the current situation cannot continue."
