EFL change rule after James McClean incident in Birmingham City vs Wrexham match

The EFL have ditched a long-standing rule following an incident involving James McClean in Birmingham City’s win over Wrexham in September.

Wrexham captain McClean was substituted late in the match and had to walk all the way around the St Andrew’s turf due to the rules stating he had to leave the pitch at the nearest exit point.

EFL lawmakers introduced the rule for the 2019/20 season to prevent time-wasting but it led to McClean being abused by supporters as he made his way to the Wrexham bench. McClean has now been given special dispensation to use the shortest route across the pitch to the tunnel whenever he needs to leave the pitch.

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After consultations between the EFL, Wrexham and PGMOL, a letter has been sent to clubs which has been leaked online. It states: "You will be aware that James McClean is often on the receiving end of abuse from some sections of support.

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"This has, in the past, resulted in FA sanctions against the club due to the chanting becoming racially, or religiously motivated and therefore, classed as a hate crime. Missiles have also been thrown."

"It has now been agreed that on occasions in the future when Mr McClean has to leave the field of play, for whatever reason, he will leave by the shortest route towards the tunnel. This process will help to reduce these incidents and also help to manage Mr McClean's departure from the pitch without incident.”

Reacting to the news, McClean revealed Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson contacted the governing bodies as a result of what happened at St Andrew’s.

"It's not something I've asked for, so it was quite a shock to see it to be honest,” McClean, 35, told talkSPORT. "It's definitely welcome because, not just for me, but for anyone.

"I find that a very stupid rule anyway - leaving the pitch at the nearest exit - you're putting yourself in a situation where players have to walk around the outside of the pitch, and, especially, players playing away... and you can get idiots.

"It's very hard to control thousands of idiots if you're a steward or police if people want to throw things, if people want to shout abuse - not everybody can be controlled.

"It just takes away the [chance of] anything stupid happening really, common sense has prevailed let's say! A couple of weeks ago the manager pulled me after the Birmingham incident that they were looking into doing something. As weeks have gone by I didn't hear anything, didn't really pay attention, to be honest, and then yesterday when it broke I've seen it like everyone else and it's welcome.”