Steven Gerrard has become the latest sporting star to visit the controversial Fame Park zoo in Dubai, with the Liverpool legend having been recorded feeding a bear despite RSPCA warnings.
Gerrard is currently planning his next managerial move after losing his job at Aston Villa back in October.
The 42-year-old has enjoyed time with his family in Dubai and was featured in a video posted on social media by the private farm.
Steven Gerrard, right, was filmed feeding a bear at the controversial Fame Park in Dubai
Gerrard was seen feeding a bear from his hand in the video, with the ex-Rangers and Aston Villa manager sharing the footage on his Instagram with the caption ‘wasn’t scared honest’.
The former England international was the latest to be welcomed to the private farm, which is owed by Emirati entrepreneur Saif Ahmad Belhasa.
The likes of football star Lionel Messi and British boxing icon Anthony Joshua have both paid visit to the same farm, with the likes of Virgil van Dijk, John Stones and Patrice Evra also visiting the Belhasa farm in the past.
Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay was criticised by wildlife charities last month
McTominay is among several stars from football to have recently visited the park
Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay was criticised by wildlife charities last month after images surfaced of him playing tug of war with a tiger.
The Scottish star posed with several animals, including a bear, giants snakes and reptiles, as well as the tiger.
The RSPCA have criticised the park with the animal welfare charity warning against the use of wild animals for ‘public entertainment’.
‘Facilities excuse their “human versus beast experiences”, like tug-of-war, as helpful for welfare by mimicking natural behaviours,’ said Wendy Higgins, of the Humane Society International, after footage of McTominay surfaced.
‘But that merely acknowledges that captive life limits the lives of these animals such that they are forced to participate in demeaning spectacles.
‘Big cat cub petting is never OK from an animal welfare or human safety perspective, and facilities that offer interactions fall far short of ethical standards.’
The park’s owner Saif Ahmad Belhasa posted a photo of Harry Maguire holding a python
McTominay’s Manchester United team-mate Harry Maguire visited the park with fellow England star James Maddison in December following the World Cup in Qatar.
Maguire was also pictured feeding a bear and was seen handling a python.
Manchester City’s Phil Foden, Brighton’s Danny Welbeck and AC Milan stars Rafael Leao and Sergino Dest are among players to have been pictured at the park by Belhasa in recent months.
Leicester City midfielder James Maddison visited the park with Maguire last month
Phil Foden was among several players to travel to the park following the World Cup in Qatar
Gerrard’s visit to the controversial park comes as he weighs up his return to management.
The Liverpool great has emerged as a shock candidate for the vacant Poland job, after Czeslaw Michniewicz’s contract was not renewed following their last-16 exit at the World Cup.
Ex-Poland international Jerzy Dudek has played down the prospect of Gerrard taking the role, telling Przeglad Sportowy his former Liverpool team-mate had received ‘one message’ about the role to date.
Ex-Switzerland manager Vladimir Petkovic, Saudi Arabia head coach Herve Renard and former South Korea boss Paulo Bento are considered the leading contenders for the job.
Source: Dailymail.co.uk
