Algeria international Farid El Melali has apologised after he was arrested for masturbating in public on Monday night.

The 23-year-old striker was seen masturbating in the courtyard of his block of flats while looking at a woman who lives on the ground floor.

El Melali was arrested and charged by French police for public masturbation and he has since released the following statement indicating that he regrets his actions.

“These last few days I’ve experienced a very complicated period, whether that’s been morally or physically, to do this in face of criticism and judgement is difficult.”

“I understand the relentlessness of people who received ‘the information’ because no one can tolerate this nature of acts, however “All sons of Adam commit sins, and the best of sinners are those who repent.”

“Know that I present my apologies to my family, my friends, as well as the supporters of my dear club and my Algerian compatriots.”

“Everything that has happened indeed touched me, but has left me stronger and a lot more conscious of the values and principles that I must preserve.”

“Thank you to everyone and to all those who were with me during this bad phase,” El Melali wrote on his official Twitter and Instagram pages.

The promising marksman, who has played three times for Algeria, signed a new deal with French Ligue 1 side Angers earlier this week.