West Brom's James McClean turns back during 'God Save the Queen'

West Bromwich Albion's James McClean is in hot water once again after the midfielder turned his back to the cross of St. George during the anthem ceremony prior to a friendly match against the Charleston Battery.

This isn't McClean's first brush with controversy. The physical midfielder, who plays for the Irish national team despite being from Derry, Northern Ireland, refused to sport the remembrance poppy-emblazoned commemorative kits worn by clubs in England on the Sunday nearest to Nov. 11.

Last year, while a member of Wigan Athletic, McClean opted not to wear the commemorative jersey, penning an eloquent letter to club chairman Dave Whelan to explain his reasons.

"The Poppy is used to remember victims of other conflicts since 1945 and this is where the problem starts for me. For people from the North of Ireland such as myself, and specifically those in Derry, scene of the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre, the poppy has come to mean something very different."

"Mr. Whelan, for me to wear a poppy would be as much a gesture of disrespect for the innocent people who lost their lives in the Troubles – and Bloody Sunday especially – as I have in the past been accused of disrespecting the victims of WWI and WWII."

The national anthem is not typically played at domestic matches, but as is the tradition at sporting events in North American, West Brom followed suit.

As expected, there have been some polarized opinions posted online, with some people empathizing with McClean's views ...

... and others have not been as kind or polite, most of which cannot be published here.

Neither McClean nor the club have commented on the matter.