LONDON — Manchester United defender Chris Smalling has apologized for his “insensitive decision” after being pictured at a fancy dress party appearing to look like a suicide bomber.
Smalling’s management company Wasserman Media Group insisted that costume was “an attempted comedy play on the popular ‘jager bomb drink’.”
The photograph appears on the front page of Thursday’s edition of The Sun newspaper.
A statement to The Associated Press said 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.”
Chris Smalling on the UK Sun newspaper’s front page, January 9, 2014
But the statement said Smalling “fully accepts in hindsight it was an ill-thought out and insensitive decision.”
It added that “absolutely no harm was intended whatsoever and he apologizes for any offence caused”.
United declined to comment.
Smalling, a center-back for United and a member of the England squad, is 24. He was born in London.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this story.
