Lavezzi, who joined Hebei CFFC from Paris St Germain in a multi-million dollar deal last year, was pictured making the gesture while in team uniform, and both the player and the club released statements in an attempt to diffuse the situation.
"Per the request of the Chinese Super League, we took the official photos for the season," Lavezzi said in a statement issued on Sunday.
"We were given instructions by the official photographer and I was trying to make some interesting photos by making some funny faces, which would be used afterwards for entertainment purposes.
"I had no intention of insulting the Chinese people and did not do it with any bad intentions," the 32-year-old added.
