Ireland U21 ace Killian Phillips REFUSES to stand alongside his Wycombe Wanderers team-mates during minute’s silence ahead of Remembrance Day – as fans slam him for lacking ‘basic decency’
- Wycombe Wanderers took part in a minute’s silence on their Oxford United trip
- Irish youngster Killian Phillips chose to separate himself from his team-mates
- Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’
An Irish footballer has caused outrage by distancing himself from team-mates during a playing of The Last Post.
Killian Phillips, who is on loan at Wycombe Wanderers from Premier League side Crystal Palace, chose to separate from his peers for the Remembrance tribute ahead of the League One team’s match away to Oxford United.
Teams across English football are now undertaking a series of tributes ahead of Remembrance Day on November 11.
Poppy’s will also be worn on shirts for the month of November – but Phillips has already caused anger for his actions at the weekend.
‘Scumbag,’ one user wrote. ‘Bad enough refusing to wear a poppy, but refusing to even stand with your teammates is disgusting. Quite happy to take a British wage though.’
Killian Phillips (right) chose to stand away from team-mates during a tribute ahead of Remembrance Day, angering a number of Wycombe Wanderers supporters
Phillips was labelled a ‘disgrace’ and accused of lacking ‘basic decency’ with his gesture
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‘Why choose to play football in this country if you’re not willing to have the basic decency to respect our traditions? Especially one that commemorates the fallen?’
A third said: ‘Killian Phillips is not welcome back at Palace.’
It remains to be seen if Phillips, who was born in San Diego in the United States before moving to Kilbarrack in Dublin as a child, chooses not to wear a poppy.
The former Drogheda United midfielder is not the first Irish player to cause uproar in the English Football League, with James McClean, now at League Two Wrexham, targeted with sectarian abuse annually for his decision not to wear a poppy.
Others chose to come to Phillips’ defence, claiming his gesture was defiant but respectful.
The Irish U21 star was born in the United States but grew up in Kilbarrack in Dublin as a child
‘Ireland U21 international, Killian Phillips, standing away from his teammates and not taking part in Wycombe Wanderers Remembrance Day tribute. Well done Killian, legend,’ one Irish football account wrote, in a post that has been viewed more than 2.7million times.
Another said: ‘Context and history are very important went discussing such matters.
‘As well as that, it’s not as if the player is doing anything disrespectful, he’s simply going with his beliefs, which he has every right to do.’
Wycombe Wanderers host Cambridge United on Tuesday night before they travel to League Two Bradford City in the FA Cup first round at the weekend, with Phillips likely to be of interest during both games’ Remembrance tributes.
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