Colombia captain James Rodriguez has been photographed brandishing his middle finger from an upstairs window at the Colombia Football Federation offices, in a shot published on Sunday by news agency Agence France-Presse.
The incident came after James had scored a late penalty to secure the team's less than impressive 1-0 World Cup 2018 qualifying win at home to bottom-side Bolivia last week, and ahead of fourth-placed Colombia's visit to fifth-placed Ecuador in Quito on Tuesday.
The image was captured by AFP photographer Luis Acosta, who told El Tiempo there were three agency photographers and two WIN Sports reporters on the field when James came to the window.
"At the front were three agency photographers and two journalists from the channel WIN Sports," Acosta said. "Behind were other colleagues doing interviews with the players. From the second story of the building, where the gym is, James came out and made this 'pistol' gesture towards where we were."
El Tiempo writer Gabriel Meluk, however, quoted the two reporters, Juan Felipe Cadavid and Jorge Bermudez, as saying that they could not be sure that the gesture was aimed at reporters.
"But yes, we were there in that area," they said.
On Tuesday, Colombia coach Jose Pekerman said he hadn't heard about the photo.
"This is the first I am hearing about it, so I can't explain what happened, but the most logical thing to do would be to speak with him [James] so he can clarify this," he told reporters.
In his column, Meluk said he sought an explanation from Colombia media director Juan Raul Mejia, but has not yet received a response.
The media in Colombia have been critical of the national team's form, as they are in the fourth spot in the CONMEBOL qualifying group for the 2018 World Cup.
They visit Ecuador, who are just a point back on Jose Pekerman's men, on Tuesday in a crucial game. Copa America winners Chile are also just a point back in sixth place. Just four teams earn automatic qualifying spots with a fifth heading to a playoff.
James, 25, has made just seven starts in La Liga this season and has been linked with a possible transfer in the summer. Media reports in Spain say that Real Madrid are seeking to recoup the €80 million they paid for him after the World Cup in 2014.
James has struggled to find a spot on the Madrid first team regularly under manager Zinedine Zidane.