James McClean has been fined two weeks' wages by Stoke City and agreed to delete his Instagram account after posting an offensive picture of himself home schooling his children in a balaclava.
The image, which was accompanied by a caption that read 'today's school lesson – history' and laughing emojis, was interpreted as a reference to the IRA.
Sportsmail exclusively revealed that McClean faced a dressing down from his club after posting the image yesterday.
The Championship club announced that McClean had been punished over his actions, saying: 'Stoke City can confirm that, following an internal disciplinary review, disciplinary action has been taken against James McClean for an inappropriate social media post.
'McClean has been fined two weeks' wages by the club and has also agreed to delete his Instagram account.
'The player has expressed contrition and recognises that the post was ill advised and offensive.'
McClean also apologised for the photo which was taken as he taught his two young children at home during the coronavirus lockdown.
He said: 'I never wanted to cause any offence but I now realise that I did so and for that I apologise unreservedly. I have spoken to the club and will be deleting my Instagram account.'
McClean has caused controversy before over his stance on the Northern Ireland issue and refusal to wear a remembrance poppy.
The 30-year-old Republic of Ireland winger was born in Derry and raised on the Creggan estate where six of the people killed on Bloody Sunday in 1972 came from. His manager at Stoke, Michael O'Neill, is also the Northern Ireland coach.