Hinteregger poses with killed deer

Even though his passion for hobby hunting was already well known – hobby hunter Martin Hinteregger is now suddenly causing uncomfortable uproar in the «social media forest»!

The former Austrian national team player presents himself foolishly in his latest Instagram post with a roebuck he has shot.

Criticism of Hinteregger

Most of the Carinthian’s followers are not impressed either by the hobby hunting itself or by the publication of a photo featuring the killed wild animal . «If you had any respect for this magnificent animal, you would not have shot it» or «Having yourself photographed [...] as if holding a trophy and being ‘proud’ of it is something I find very questionable. That is reason enough for me to unfollow you» — these are just two examples of the criticism directed at Hinteregger.

Martin Hinteregger’s behaviour is shameful, above all for himself. He poses proudly in his photo in front of a killed animal, yet in reality the scene is a testament to a lack of morality. It is sad that he has replaced the missing thrill on the football pitch with the «kick» that killing apparently gives him. The ex-professional footballer would do well to think of a better leisure activity than lying in wait for animals in the forest and senselessly taking their lives. We hope that the public criticism will prompt him to reconsider and that in future he will turn to a non-bloody, meaningful hobby — such as animal and environmental protection.

Peter Höffken, specialist adviser at PETA