Andres Iniesta: Former Barcelona midfielder apologises for posing with two people in blackface

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A photo of former Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta (centre) surrounded by his family and a group of people dressed in costumes to mark Three Kings Day, two of whom are in black makeupImage source, Twitter / @andresiniesta8
Image caption,

Andres Iniesta posted the photo on his Twitter and Instagram accounts

Former Barcelona and Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta has apologised after posting a photograph of himself with two people in blackface as part of Epiphany celebrations in Spain.

The image shows Iniesta, 34, his wife, two of his children and a group dressed in costumes related to Three Kings Day.

Two of the group are painted black - the role of Balthazar in Spain is often played by a white man in blackface.

A statement said Iniesta did not want to "bother" anyone with the photograph.

On Tuesday night, the photo had not been removed from the Vissel Kobe player's social media.

"[Iniesta] apologises to those people who may have been offended," the statement, released by Iniesta's representatives, added.

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