Stoke's James McClean has been warned by the English Football Association for his use of an offensive word on social media but no further disciplinary action will be taken, the governing body has announced.
It was reported this afternoon that the FA would be investigating McClean over his Instagram post at the weekend in which he quoted Bobby Sands and referred to fans abusing him as "uneducated cavemen."
An FA statement said: "Stoke City's James McClean has been warned by The FA for his use of an offensive word on social media.
"We are satisfied that the rest of the player's postings do not breach FA Rules and, therefore, no further disciplinary action will be taken.
"The FA adds that any discriminatory language or behaviour aimed at any person or persons of nationality or faith, as we understand may have been experienced by the player in this case, is unacceptable."
McClean reacted angrily to the news that the football authorities were investigating him, suggesting he was being targeted because he is an Irish Catholic.
In an Instagram post, he accused the FA of turning a "blind eye" to the abuse he had received from fans over several years.
"If it was a person's skin colour or if it was anti-Muslim, someone's gender, there would be an uproar and it would be taken in a completely different way and dealt with in a different manner.
"But like in Neil Lennon's case in Scotland, because we are Irish catholics, they turn a blind eye and nothing is ever said and done."
