Spanish bullfighter Fran Rivera is being investigated by the child protection agency in his native Andalucia after he posted a picture online of him fighting a bull with his five-month-old daughter, Carmen, in his arms.
Rivera has received widespread criticism from animal rights groups and public figures, despite bullfighting aficionados praising him – some even nominating him “father of the year”.
The acting minister of social security, Alfonso Alonso, said "it isn't right in any circumstances to put a child at risk". Speaking on Canal Sur radio Maria Jose Sanchez Rubio, the equality minister, also criticised Rivera, saying: "A fireman wouldn't dream of taking a child to put out a fire, nor would a football player run around with a child in their arms during a match."
Rivera denied he had put the child at risk. “It’s outrageous to say I put my child in danger,” he said. “There is no safer place for her to be than in my arms. This is Carmen’s debut, the fifth bullfighting generation in my family. My grandfather did the same with my father, my father with me, and me with my daughters Cayetana and now Carmen.”
Support
Fellow bullfighters rushed to support Rivera, posting pictures of themselves holding children while putting a bull through its paces.
Manuel Diaz
, known as “El Cordobes” wrote under a picture apparently showing him with a bull and his daughter in his arms: “What’s wrong with showing our children the profession we love and which is founded on values?”
The animal rights group Pacma described it as "shameful" and said it was not the way to teach children respect for animals.
There was a public outcry when Rivera was awarded the Fine Arts medal by the ministry of culture in 2009. In Spain bullfighting is defined as a cultural activity, not a sport.
– (Guardian service)