Wife defends Socceroo amid St Pauli 'mud-slinging'

Kicker sports magazine said that the St Pauli board member has since apologised in a letter to 32-year-old Irvine, a popular figure with the fans who is sidelined for months after foot surgery in summer. 

St Pauli said in a statement: "After the comments became known, the FC St Pauli club management held internal discussions, clearly distanced itself from them and also communicated this distancing - before the Instagram reel was published on Tuesday. 

"We urge everyone to behave in a respectful and constructive manner in the interests of FC St Pauli as a whole. Mud-slinging on social media helps no one - it hurts everyone." 

St Pauli have started well into the season without their talisman Irvine, who caused a stir off the pitch with a pro-Palestinian stance in the Gaza war. This position is controversial among St Pauli fans.