Stephen Ireland and Leon Best apologise for semi-naked nightclub photos

Ireland international Leon Best and ex-Ireland international Stephen Ireland have issued an apology after being photographed semi-naked in a Newcastle nightclub the night before the Premier League clash with Stoke at the weekend.

Injury victims Best and Ireland were not required for the game at the Britannia Stadium, in which Newcastle were hammered 4-0, and took the opportunity to visit the Tup Tup Palace nightclub in the city.

The pair were pictured baring their chests for the camera in the nightclub and although they insist that they were only in there for a short time and didn’t consume any alcohol, both admitted that it was wrong of them to be out on the town the night before a Premier League game, even if they weren’t involved.

With his track record of inventing dead grannies and saying he’d rather shoot himself than live in Cork, Ireland is no stranger to controversy, but Best will regret the adverse attention the episode is bound to receive ahead of the Euro 2012 qualifying clash with Macedonia at the weekend.

"Although we had both been ruled out of the game at Stoke, and didn't travel with the team, we realise that going out to a bar was inappropriate ahead of Saturday's game and we fully regret doing so,” said Best and Ireland in a statement on Newcastle’s website.

"We were asked to have our photograph taken and we removed our shirts as a tongue-in-cheek joke between friends, but of course the resulting coverage in the press suggests a far different night out. Whilst our actions were wrong, neither of us had consumed alcohol and we were out for only a very short period of time.

"However, with the team having an important game at Stoke the following day, we should never have put ourselves or the club in that position."