Muzzled bear hired by Russian footballer for son's birthday party

Russian football player Kiril Kombarov hired a huge bear to be the star attraction at his two-year-old son’s birthday party. Photograph: Europics

A Russian footballer has been criticised for hiring a bear to perform at his son’s second birthday party earlier this week.

Kombarov’s son rides the bear in this now-deleted picture. Photograph: Europics

Midfielder Kirill Kombarov, who plays for FC Torpedo Moscow, came under fire after he posted images of the muzzled bear, also wearing a tie, on his social media profiles. One image, now deleted from his Instagram profile, showed his two-year-old son sitting on the back of the bear while the rest of his family pose behind.

According to MailOnline, the bear was hired from the Stepan Nikulin circus and has appeared in several films. The circus confirmed the bear is available to hire for private parties.

The 27-year-old footballer deleted the picture from his Instagram account after receiving heavy criticism.

Can someone please rescue this bear from such a horrid life. Shame on you Kirill Kombarov you disgust me. http://t.co/dNBx5i3bWe

— Allison Keenan (@alik8) November 20, 2014

Russian footballer Kombarov throws a birthday party for his son and lets him ride a real bear. Kid you not. http://t.co/DUpE5RyJXH

— Yan M. (@ymatusik) November 16, 2014

Kombarov has not responded to the criticism as of yet.