TENNIS: Rodger Federer Apologizes Over "Bleed Blue" Photo

Federer has been caught up in a controversy over a T-shirt he wore. Perhaps Roger Federer would be advised to not do everything he is told to by his sponsors next time. The tennis superstar has had to apologise after he was pictured admiring the blue shirt of Cricket World Cup champions India in a marketing photo-shoot.

Federer, or likely one of his representatives, posted a picture of him admiring a blue India jersey on his official Facebook page. But it was not the photo alone which triggered a controversy, but the caption below it, which read: "Dressing up for a Gentleman's game today. #BleedBlue".



Seemingly harmless? Yes. But then that question exposes an ignorance of the rivalry which exists between India and Pakistan in the 'Gentleman's game' to which Federer referred.

It may have just been an innocuous marketing shot for the cameras, but the rivalry is so fierce between the cricketing giants that Federer accidentally sparked a real controversy with the English language newspaper the Express Tribute in Pakistan claiming in an opinion poll that 10 out of 12 Pakistanis felt hurt or betrayed.

The 17-time Grand Slam champion's 'Bleed Blue' hashtag was obviously ill-advised given the context of the photo with the Cricket World Cup in Australia making the sport at the centre of attention.

As this slideshow demonstrates, it is hardly the first questionable thing the long suffering but richly-rewarded Federer has done on behalf of his sponsors.

But poor Federer, whose mother Lynette is from South Africa, has been left red-faced by the post and had to issue an official apology and explanation.

"It was more of a Nike thing to be quite honest," said the Swiss star on the eve of the Dubai Open.

"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."

The Indian team, he said, he supported "a little bit." He added that his level of interest in cricket, "really depends where you are," he added.

"When I'm in America, definitely not. When I'm in Europe, definitely not. But then when I'm in Australia and here (in the UAE), a little bit sometimes. So it really depends where I am in the world which sport I follow."

So, not a great moment for Federer, but he was clearly not entirely to blame with Nike having got their marketing ploy pretty badly wrong.