Footballers' Cheltenham booking cancelled following '˜inappropriate behaviour'

Cheltenham has cancelled the booking of a group of footballers after pictures said to show one of the players urinating into a beer glass on the first day of the Festival were published.

MK Dons midfielder Samir Carruthers is said to have been caught by a photographer as he relieved himself on a balcony while surrounded by racegoers.

The series of images printed in The Sun appear to then show a glass of liquid being poured over the railing by another man as Carruthers, 22, wearing a grey flat cap and waistcoat, grins.

Cheltenham has now moved to block the party from attending day two of the Festival, with the track tweeting: “In regards to images of inappropriate behaviour from yesterday, we have cancelled their booking for today.”

Sophia Dale, the Festival’s head of communications, added : “It was just this small group of people who made this incident happen and they are not welcome today.”

MK Dons have launched an investigation into the pictures and said that while Carruthers was involved, neither he nor any other MK Dons player threw it over the balcony.

MK Dons said in a statement: “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.”

Bristol City defender Luke Ayling was also pictured alongside Carruthers, with his arm around the Dons player at one point.

While there is no suggestion of any wrongdoing from the 24-year-old, the Robins 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.”