MK Dons footballer Samir Carruthers sorry for conduct at Cheltenham Festival
Wednesday 16 March 2016 17:47, UK
MK Dons midfielder Samir Carruthers has apologised on Sky Sports News HQ for his behaviour at the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday.
Cheltenham had earlier cancelled Wednesday's booking by a group of footballers after pictures were published which appeared to show one of the players urinating into a beer glass on the opening day.
The 22-year-old Carruthers was photographed alongside Northampton striker James Collins - on loan from Shrewsbury - and Bristol City defender Luke Ayling.
All four clubs are investigating their players' conduct.
Carruthers told SSNHQ: "I just want to say I'm sorry to everyone, my family, the club, chairman, the gaffer.
"I've not been raised up to do something like that and I've let everyone down. I've let the community down and I've let Milton Keynes down and I have to take the criticism that comes with it.
"It's not something that should be laughed about. It's not an example I should be giving to kids either. I'm meant to be a role model and I have to live by my actions now and I really am hurt by what I've done.
"It was a silly mistake and I just have to take everything that comes with it."
Other images appear to show a glass of liquid being poured over the railing by Collins as Carruthers, wearing a grey flat cap and waistcoat, grins.
Carruthers said he had been disciplined by the club following a meeting with chairman Pete Winkelman and manager Karl Robinson.
"They're obviously very let down and I'm being disciplined for it," Carruthers added. "They had faith in me not to do something like that so I feel like I've met them down massively.
"But it's not just them, I've let down the whole team, my team-mates, everyone. And I'm really sorry to Cheltenham as well because they let me in and stuff and I obviously embarrassed everyone."
MK Dons have launched an investigation and said that while Carruthers was involved, neither he nor any other MK Dons player threw liquid from the glass over the balcony.
With Cheltenham cancelling the visit of a group of footballers, Sophia Dale, the Festival's head of communications, added on Sky Sports News HQ: "It was just this small group of people who made this incident happen and they are not welcome today."
Carruthers - a former Arsenal and Aston Villa youngster - signed for Championship side MK Dons in 2014 and has made 100 appearances for the club.
A statement from MK Dons read: "The club is aware of pictures circulating in the national media of one of its players at the Cheltenham Festival. The club has commenced an internal investigation into the matter."
Collins has been fined two weeks' wages and warned about his future club by parent club Shrewsbury.
"I cannot apologise enough for my actions and the pictures from my visit to Cheltenham Races yesterday," said the striker in a statement released by the Shrews.
"I have completely let myself, my family, the fans, and the two clubs that I represent down and I am sorry to everyone involved.
"My actions are not excusable and whilst the pictures are rather misleading in that there were not people below this balcony and it was only a grassed area there is still no defence to what happened."
While there is no suggestion of any wrongdoing from Ayling, Bristol City said in a statement: "We are aware of the disappointing images from the Cheltenham Festival that have been printed in various national newspapers this morning.
"We will be speaking to the players concerned and will take appropriate action where necessary."
