- Yohan Benalouane, who plays for Leicester City, shared a photoshopped image
- The mocked-up fan photo is of his head on a gunman firing two weapons
- Both an apparent nod to the player’s likeness of an assassin on video game
A Premier League footballer expected to line up for Tunisia against England tomorrow has apologised for posting images showing him toting guns on his Instagram account.
Yohan Benalouane, who plays for Leicester City, shared a photoshopped image of his head on a gunman firing two weapons and a painting by a fan showing him holding a gun. Both are an apparent nod to the player’s likeness to Agent 47, an assassin in the Hitman video game series.
Yohan Benalouane, who plays for Leicester City, shared a photoshopped image of his head
Victims’ rights campaigner Harry Fletcher said: ‘World Cup footballers are role models and for them to be seen in any way endorsing guns by posing with them, even if it is in artwork, is irresponsible and sending the wrong message to young people.’
Writing on Instagram yesterday, the 31-year-old defender said: ‘My intention was only to recognise the work of the fans that created them. I would never condone or promote violence in any way. Apologies for any offence caused!’
The row follows controversy about England forward Raheem Sterling getting a tattoo of an M16 assault rifle on his leg, though the player said it reflected his vow to ‘never touch a gun’ after his father was shot dead in Jamaica when he was a boy. It also comes ahead of the third anniversary of the terror attack near Sousse in Tunisia, in which 38 people, including 30 Britons, were killed.
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