Andy Carroll deletes Instagram after red card on Dagenham debut and absence from daughters' birthday coverage

Former England striker Andy Carroll deleted his Instagram account after receiving a red card on his first start since returning to English football and amid reports he did not feature in footage from his daughters' joint birthday party.

Carroll, 36, was sent off in the 45th minute of Dagenham & Redbridge's FA Cup qualifying match against Bedford Town after being handed the captain's armband. The forward had come off the bench in Dagenham's 5-2 National League South defeat by Worthing last week following recovery from a hamstring injury.

The striker signed for Dagenham & Redbridge in July after a year with French club Bordeaux. His signing coincided with the club's acquisition by a consortium of Qatari private investors, a move that drew attention given Carroll's previous roles with Premier League clubs including Newcastle United and Liverpool.

Shortly after the match, Carroll's Instagram profile appeared to have been removed. Prior to deleting the account, he posted a birthday tribute to his daughters; footage and photos later shared from the joint celebration by his ex-partner, television personality Billi Mucklow, did not include Carroll. Mucklow posted multiple images and videos from the party, held for Marvel, who turned five, and Emilierose, who turned 16. In her posts, Mucklow displayed cakes and gifts from the event.

Carroll and Mucklow confirmed last year that they had separated and were in the process of divorce after more than a decade together. They share three children: Arlo, 10, Wolf, seven, and Marvel, five. Emilierose is from a previous relationship, and other family members attended the party, according to the social-media posts.

Carroll's personal life has also been the focus of recent media coverage because of an on-again, off-again relationship with make-up artist Lou Teasdale. Reports of a second split earlier this month were followed by a social-media post from Carroll showing him and Teasdale together. He has previously said he and Teasdale were trying to work through difficulties and had discussed cutting down on alcohol. In an interview reported to a tabloid, Carroll was quoted as saying, "I love Lou and I love her family. We row like any couple," and that they were attempting to resolve issues.

Fans and observers reacted on social media to Carroll's red card, noting the rarity of the sending-off for the former Premier League forward. The sending-off came after Carroll was handed a starting role and the captaincy in only his second appearance for the Daggers.

Dagenham & Redbridge signed Carroll as part of a summer recruitment drive and have deployed him as they balance National League South competition and cup fixtures. Carroll returned to England after a one-year spell in France; his early days back have been affected by a hamstring problem that limited him to a substitute appearance in his debut week.

Representatives for Carroll and Mucklow did not immediately issue statements in the wake of the match and the social-media changes. Media outlets covering the incidents have reported on the developments, and Carroll's Instagram account remained unavailable at the time of publication.