Samir Carruthers: MK Dons fine player after he is pictured 'urinating in a beer glass' at Cheltenham Festival

The series of images, printed in The Sun, appear to show the former Aston Villa academy relieving himself on a balcony

Ruby Walsh celebrates after riding Annie Power to victory at Cheltenham (Getty Images)

MK Dons have fined midfielder Samir Carruthers two weeks' wages and suspended him for their next match over his part in an incident at the Cheltenham Festival, after images emerged appearing to show the midfielder urinating into a beer glass at the Festival.

The former Aston Villa and Arsenal academy player is alleged to have relieved himself on a balcony in the racecourse's VIP section while surrounded by fellow punters.

The series of images, printed in The Sun, appear to then show a glass of liquid being poured over the railing by another man as Carruthers, 22, wearing a grey flat cap and waistcoat, grins.

Following the publication of the photographs in a number of Wednesday's newspapers, the festival's organisers cancelled the group's booking for Wednesday's meeting.

"In regards to images of inappropriate behaviour from yesterday, we have cancelled their booking for today," Cheltenham racecourse tweeted.

MK Dons chairman Pete Winkelman said in a statement on the club's official website: "Samir has received a warning, been fined two weeks' wages and handed a suspension by the club, which is inclusive of this Saturday's Sky Bet Championship fixture with Brighton."

Bristol City’s Luke Ayling and the Northampton Town's James Collins could also be seen in the images laughing and joking.

Collins, who is on loan at Northampton from Shrewsbury Town, has also been fined two weeks wages.

A statement from the Cobblers said: “As a club we take any such claims extremely seriously, and we expect the highest standards of behaviour at all times."

Collins has since said in a statement on Northampton Town's official website that his actions were "inexcusable", but did add that the "pictures were misleading".

"My actions are not excusable and whilst the pictures are rather misleading in that there were not people below this balcony and it was only a grassed area there is still no defence to what happened," he said.

Sophia Dale, the festival's head of communications, told Sky Sports News: "It was just this small group of people who made this incident happen and they are not welcome today."

Additional reporting by PA