A football club has called for “full and unconditional apologies” from the Alliance Party after the club’s badge was used in an image on a social media post where the party was promoting a bill that will “tackle abusive flags”.

The image posted had a flag which bears Linfield FC’s badge and the text on the image said “striking the right balance”.

South Belfast MLA Paula Bradshaw, who is proposing the bill, apologised to the club “for any offence caused” which Linfield have called a “conditional apology”.

The Alliance Party said the flag had been used “in conjunction with highlighted text about legitimate cultural expression, but was misconstrued by some”.

The graphic was removed to “avoid any misrepresentation, deliberate or otherwise”.