Sunderland have reportedly forced winger James McClean to delete his Twitter account due to a controversial tweet involving the IRA.

The 23-year-old wrote on the social network site that his favourite song was 'The Broad Black Brimmer', which is about a story of a boy whose father is killed fighting for the military organisation by Noel Nagle of the Wolfe Tones.

The message sparked DUP MP Gregory Campbell to accuse the Irishman of making 'contentious' comments due to the song's content.

The controversy is believed to have prompted Sunderland into telling McClean to close down his Twitter account, according to the Irish Independent.

McClean was recently at the centre of criticism when he refused to wear a poppy on his Sunderland shirt to mark Remembrance Day last year.