Coronavirus: Manchester City's Kyle Walker complains of 'harassment' after breaking lockdown rules again
The footballer says he takes responsibility but believes his life "is being scrutinised without any context".
Friday 8 May 2020 18:45, UK
Manchester City footballer Kyle Walker has said he is being "harassed" after he admitted breaking social distancing rules again.
Walker said he visited his home city of Sheffield on Wednesday, where he hugged his sister after giving her a birthday gift, before travelling to his parents' home to collect home-cooked meals.
The Sun also reported that he went on a cycle ride with a friend.
It comes a month after he apologised for hosting a gathering at his home during the lockdown.
In a statement on Twitter, he said he "took full responsibility" for his actions but now felt he was "being harassed".
He added: "It is sad, but I feel as though my life is being scrutinised without any context.
"I understand if people are upset or angry with me, but it was important for people to have a better understanding of my life.
"This is no longer solely affecting me, but affecting the health of my family and my young children too."
He said: "I am in a privileged position as a role model and a professional athlete and can assure you from my upbringing I do not take it for granted. But at what stage do my feelings get taken into consideration?
"At a time when the focus is understandably on COVID-19, at what point does mental health get taken into consideration, an illness which affects every sufferer differently?"
More than 31,000 people have died in the UK with the coronavirus in the past few months.
Walker's team has already said it will conduct an internal disciplinary procedure after his apology last month, but has not revealed any punishment so far.
Walker, 29, joined City from Tottenham in 2017 and has helped the team win two Premier League titles.