Fran Rivera Ordonez: Spanish bullfighter who took his baby into the ring faces investigation

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A prominent Spanish matador is to be investigated after posting a picture of him holding his baby daughter while fighting a bull.

The child protection agency in Andalusia said it had launched an inquiry into Francisco 'Fran' Rivera Ordonez, who posted the photo on Instagram of him holding his five-month-old infant while taunting a bull.

The agency referred to it as "a situation of unnecessary risk for a minor”, which they “totally reject”.

The photo, which has received more than 13,000 likes on the picture-sharing website, has also attracted fierce criticism from leading figures in the Spanish government.

Equality minister Maria Jose Sanchez said: "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, 42, responded to the criticism on Twitter, saying his daughter will never be safer than when she is with him.

He has also received support on social media platforms, with some users calling the response an “exaggeration”.

Rivera has recently recovered from a serious injury inflicted while bullfighting. His father, Francisco Rivera Perez, was killed by a bull at the age of 36.