Published: Feb 23, 2015, 09:30 PM (IST)
Edited: Feb 23, 2015, 09:30 PM (IST)
Tennis legend Roger Federer who got himself embroiled between India-Pakistan rivalry after being pictured admiring Team India’s jersey in a marketing photo-shoot, apologised for the act.
Ahead of the India-Pakistan clash on February 15, Federer had uploaded a picture on Facebook of him admiring the Indian jersey with the caption reading, “Dressing up for a Gentleman’s game today. #BleedBlue.” It took no time for the picture to go viral on social media and for the Pakistani supporters to take offence to the photo.
As reported by AFP, a student from Cambridge University of England who writes in the Pakistan’s Express Tribune, took offence to the post and deleted all his Federer photographs and also took an opinion poll in which ten out of 12 Pakistanis were left betrayed and hurt.
The 17 times Grand slam title winner regretting the act said, “It was more of a Nike thing to be quite honest. It was a Nike campaign they had because I met some of the Indian players and I had just spent some time in India so they presented the shirt to me. I support South Africa, and everybody knows that. The idea wasn’t to spark any fire and I’m sorry if it did that.”
Federer, who has always been open about his liking for the South African team and has Proteas roots with his mother Lynette being from that country had once publicly supported the Springboks rugby team in past. He has also collected funds for his Roger Federer foundation to help the disadvantaged children in South Africa.
