Never one to mince his words, Conor McGregor has attracted a lot of attention with a strongly worded post discussing the remembrance poppy.
The flower is widely worn in the UK in November to honour fallen soldiers, but some Irish people prefer not to wear it due to its association with the British Army; Republic of Ireland footballer James McClean is a notable example.
McGregor’s rant was apparently prompted by a picture circulating online of the UFC star wearing a poppy.
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In the post he said he didn’t need ‘a stupid little flower’ to represent his country, but it is the closing line that is most attention-grabbing.
His post in full: “I know where my allegiance lies and what I do for my country.
“I don't need a stupid little flower with a 100 different meanings to tell me if I do or do not represent my country.
“Check the facts of its original meaning.
“ALL soldiers. ALL wars.
“I have the blood of many nations on my gloves. Fought and beat on the world stage.
“You have a pint in your hand and a Celtic jersey on in your local. F**k you and the Queen.”
The comments prompted a storm of online reaction last night, but the Dublin fighter appears largely unbothered, tweeting afterwards to say, “F**k politics and f**k religion.
“I just want to swing a few lefts and a few rights for a couple of hundred mill in peace.”
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[/raw]Fuck politics and fuck religion. I just want to swing a few lefts and a few rights for a couple of hundred mill in peace.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 29, 2015
