WIGAN’S James McClean has come up with a left-field suggestion that footballers should be ALLOWED to fight on the pitch to improve the game.
The winger thinks football should take a page out of ice hockey’s book where the referee allows players to briefly fight before being sent to the sin bin for five minutes.
James McClean having a scrap with an opposition playerRex
McClean in action for Wigan against BlackburnRex
The controversial winger took to his Instagram page with the suggestion.
He said: “Just an observation. If football introduced the rule like in ice hockey where if there is an on field issue then let two players involved have a 10/15 second tear up and then sin bin them, I guarantee there’d be far less handbags.”
McClean’s out the box suggestion goes against with the current rules of football which sees players sent off and handed suspensions for acts of violent conduct.
The former Stoke man has increasingly known for speaking his mind on polarising matters.
The Republic of Ireland international has refused to wear a poppy which marks Remembrance day and took time last year to open up about the abuse he received for his stance.
In September during a minutes silence following the passing of the Queen he stood away from his team-mates.
Wigan will be hoping that McClean doesn’t become involved in any scraps as they bid to beat the drop in the Championship.
McClean has made 31 appearances for Wigan this season scoring two goals and providing six assists.
The Latics currently sit 22nd in the table two points off the bottom.