Andres Iniesta sparked outcry on Sunday evening after posting a picture on social media of him with friends who appear to have painted themselves black.
The former Barcelona midfielder was heavily criticised on Instagram almost instantly after sharing the photo with many of his followers urging him to take down the offensive material and called for him to issue a public apology.
Iniesta had been celebrating Feliz dias de Reyes - a festive Christian tradition in Spain and many Latin American countries which commemorates the arrival of the three kings Balthazar, Melchior and Gaspar at the birth of Jesus - with his friends and family on Sunday.
One of the kings, Balthazar, is depicted in historical art as being black and Iniesta accompanied the post with three crown emoji's to indicate the picture was in reference to the celebration of Three Kings Day.
Iniesta was understandably hit with backlash after publishing the picture on the social media website with one user claiming: 'This is racist'.
Another Instagram user wrote: 'This is disgusting. Take it down now you rat.'
The 34-year-old, who currently plays for Vissel Kobe, is back in his native Spain after the Japanese J League ended in early December and he is not due back until later this month.
Iniesta is the latest footballer to get caught up in a racism storm with Dundee United player Jamie Robson disciplined only last month for 'blacking up' as a African salesman for a fancy dress party.
Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann also caused outrage two years ago for painting himself black to replicate a member of the Harlem Globetrotters.
Both Robson and Griezmann issued public apologies in the fallout to their controversies.
meadikopyz
103
man...people like to make samething out nothing nowaday....so by condeming iniesta make u a racism fighter??? there bigger racism problem in the world than painting yourself black...like how govertment drove minor race out of their country...why dont you guys show support for that instead of making a person look racism because he paint himself black?? next thing u know batman is condem a racist cause his costume is black...
whykallar
89
I'm 100% Barca for life, we all know what Barcelona city is good at, we won't tolorate these kind of behavior, people painting themselves to another's race, it's not civilized at all, you got black race, it could be better to bring in a black person to take part into the ceremony, stop backing wrong people and let us all try to be civilized. This is complete abuse of race, look at the photo below.. it's exactly how you find those black migrants selling to survive in Barcelona city
Nesaiknruy
62
People will do anything for their favourite players. Imo this is disgraceful, most of you won't care about the concept of blackface cos you've never known about how it made people suffer in the past and what it depicts. I'm not black myself but I know about the meaning behind a lot of this stuff and the implications are terrible. People should not accept this kind of behaviour just cos it's their favourite athlete who is friends with this type of people. Its not acceptable and frankly disrespectful and disgusting behaviour....
Adebayop
51
seriously am black and don't see anything wrong with it
natdeikmp
47
if we black people can paint ourselves in white and get away with it, why should Iniesta not paint himself with black. if it's racism then the same goes with us in white pain and bleaching.