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.
