Manchester City centre-back Ruben Dias has faced criticism after posting a video of a bullfight in his home country of Portugal, during a relaxing trip with his girlfriend Maya Jama.

Manchester City centre -back Ruben Dias is at the centre of controversy after posting a video of himself engaging in bullfighting while on holiday in Portugal , where he was with his girlfriend — popular TV presenter, Maya Jama . The 28-year-old shared a clip on social media showing eight men surrounding a raging bull, which angered many fans, who said the act was cruel to animals and expressed deep disappointment with the Man City star.

Bullfighting is still legal in Portugal, although it is banned in many countries around the world. Unlike in Spain, in Portugal, bulls are not usually killed in the arena, but in many cases are killed afterward. One fan expressed his disappointment, commenting on Dias’ post: “ Disappointed to see him supporting bullfighting. I’m going to unfollow him .” Several other critical comments have disappeared from the Portuguese player’s personal page, raising suspicions that they were deleted to avoid further controversy. The incident comes just months after the tragic death of 22-year-old young bullfighter Manuel Maria Trindade in Lisbon. He died in his first fight after being thrown into the air and slammed into a wall.

Animal protection organizations in Europe have long strongly opposed this traditional sport, arguing that tying, knocking down or killing bulls just to entertain spectators is a cruel act that is unacceptable in today’s era. The Sun said they have contacted representatives of Ruben Dias and Maya Jama to clarify the matter, but both sides have yet to make an official comment.