Griezmann sparks Twitter outrage
Griezmann first responded to the criticism by posting: "Calm down friends, I am a fan of the Harlem Globetrotters and this beautiful era... it's a tribute."
Atletico Madrid and France forward Antoine Griezmann was forced to remove a photograph from Twitter showing him blacked up and mimicking a Harlem Globetrotter basketball player after the post caused controversy on Sunday.
Griezmann was wearing a basketball jersey and a wig with his face, legs and arms blacked up alongside the caption "80's party" in the photograph on his personal Twitter page.
Although the post initially provoked little comment in Spain where Griezmann has spent the entirety of his professional career, many Twitter users around the world questioned the 26-year-old player's choice of fancy dress, with some saying it was racist.
Griezmann first responded to the criticism by posting: "Calm down friends, I am a fan of the Harlem Globetrotters and this beautiful era... it's a tribute."
He did not immediately delete the original photo, but later he did remove the post and then tweeted an apology.
"I recognise that it was clumsy of me. If I have offended people, I apologise," he wrote.
This is the post that saw abuses hurled at the Griezmann while some trolled the footballer for the unwise decision.
Griezmann: "Laca tell them I'm not racist bro."
— KJ ラ (@santasbaIlsack) December 17, 2017
Lacazette: pic.twitter.com/HFWETwFCau
YIkes Antoine Griezmann some racist trash, hate to see it. Not a fan of his game anymore
— Brenny Bren (@Bmitch905) December 18, 2017
People are really saying "the world's gone mad" to this whole Griezmann thing
— ☕️ (@TeeSyal) December 18, 2017
Why can't people just accept that blackface is a bad thing and it shouldn't be done? Clearly, the guy's intentions aren't racist but calling everyone that has an issue with it sensitive is so ignorant.
Anyone defending Griezmann needs to educate themselves. I don't think Griezmann is a racist, but what he did was a racist act. Horrible decision on his part. Not sure what he was thinking. Utterly disrespectful thing to do
— بندر #بطل_الخماسية (@iBndrz) December 17, 2017
When Griezmann next goes on international duty with France... pic.twitter.com/BPEqM0keKA
— Juan (@AnotherCuadrado) December 17, 2017