James McClean and fellow Irish footballer Eoghan O'Connell were involved in an altercation with rival players as Wrexham suffered a 3-1 defeat to Birmingham on Monday night.
Tempers boiled over during the League 1 clash after a coming together between Alex Cochrane and Paul Mullin sparked a large brawl, with McClean front and centre. And he was immediately taken off, receiving a loud response from the Birmingham faithful.
O'Connell, a cousin of Ireland rugby great Paul O'Connell, could be seen trying to calm the situation down before being pushed himself. TV cameras caught legendary American Football player and Birmingham minority owner Tom Brady clapping following the incident.
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A drink was thrown in the direction of McClean as he made his way off the pitch, which he caught, as the crowd continued to direct abuse in at him.
The Derry man laughed it off and showed off a tattoo on his leg as some supporters were held back by stewards.
One fan commented: "Birmingham fans launching a beer at James McClean, who has the home fans on strings."
Another said: "James McClean catching a beer thrown at him by Birmingham fans and absolutely rattling their fan base by simply walking near them is too funny."
Someone else wrote: "James McClean stirring the very rattled Birmingham fans by him and catching beers thrown at him."
Brady enjoyed bragging rights over Wrexham’s Hollywood owners as two goals from big-money summer signing Jay Stansfield earned Birmingham victory at St Andrew’s.
Joining seven-time Super Bowl champion Brady and Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney in the stands was former England captain David Beckham, who saw Jack Marriott’s early opener silence a loud St Andrew’s before Stansfield rebounded home on his first league start in front of 27,980 fans.
Much was made of Stansfield’s move from Fulham for an eight-figure fee but it immediately paid dividends when he fired City ahead with a second early in the second half.
Tomoki Iwata’s stunner helped seal the points before Krystian Bielik was sent off late in the piece.
Wrexham, whose other Hollywood co-owner Ryan Reynolds was absent, took an early lead – Tom O’Connor’s inswinging corner caused carnage under the crossbar and Bailey Peacock-Farrell punched out to Marriott who powered home.
But the visitors were unable to keep a fifth consecutive clean sheet as Alfie May’s initial effort stung the palms of Arthur Okonkwo and the ball fell to Stansfield who struck in the rebound.
Birmingham turned the game on its head thanks largely to a spectacular cross from Cochrane which picked out the head of Stansfield and he nodded home for his second of the night.
The hosts had breathing space in the 59th minute as Iwata let fly with a thunderbolt from 25 yards which flew past Okonkwo to make it 3-1.
Birmingham were forced to play the final four minutes with a man less after Bielik was given a second yellow for a late challenge on Andy Cannon but the damage was done to end Wrexham’s unbeaten start to the season.
The hosts are now level on 13 points with leaders Wrexham.
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