Manchester United defender Chris Smalling has issued an apology after being photographed dressed as a suicide bomber at a costume party.
Smalling, who has been capped nine times by England, explained that he was referencing Jagerbombs by strapping bottles of Jagermeister and cans of Red Bull to his costume, which also featured - rather oddly - a computer motherboard and an old Blackberry phone to complete his look along with Middle Eastern-style clothes.
Photo: The Sun
While Smalling was happy enough to call himself the 'Jagerbomber' at the time, his management company have spotted the potential bad publicity here and issued a statement on his behalf.
The apologetic tome reads, as per the AP:
Smalling's management company Wasserman Media Group insisted that picture, which appears on the front page of Thursday's edition of The Sun newspaper, was "an attempted comedy play on the popular 'jager bomb drink'."
A statement to The Associated Press says Smalling's costume at a party in his home with close friends consisted of empty bottles of Jagermeister "and cans of Red Bull strapped to his chest."
But the statement says Smalling "fully accepts in hindsight it was an ill-thought out and insensitive decision, absolutely no harm was intended whatsoever and he apologizes for any offence caused".
We wonder if Smalling will next apologise for the current state of Manchester United's defense, or does that responsibility fall on David Moyes' shoulders?
