Police defend detention of AC Milan's Tiemoue Bakayoko at gunpoint in viral video

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Milan police are adamant they did nothing wrong by holding football star Tiemoue Bakayoko at gunpoint... saying that if the situation ended up being a "misunderstanding", she was looking for someone who was involved in a shooting.

"In reference to the video released today, relating to a police check carried out against the Milan player Tiemoue Bakayoko, we emphasize that the check -- occurred during an operation whose context justified the adoption of the highest security measures," police said. said in a statement to CNN.

Police said the search "was carried out in a manner absolutely compatible with the dangerous situation" for "self-protection purposes".

"It was a misunderstanding, but the colleagues behaved correctly," police said.

The incident involving 27-year-old Bakayoko, who joined Milan on a two-year loan last summer, happened about two weeks ago but went unnoticed until video of the incident went viral on social media on Monday.

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On Monday, AC Milan said the search took place following a shooting in the vicinity.

Police added that once they established Bakayoko's identity and confirmed that he had no role in the crime(s) allegedly committed, he was released without further incident.