Adrian Peterson, NFL Vikings player, on child abuse indictment

Adrian Peterson's attorney said his client regretted the incident and insisted he was a loving father

An American football player has been indicted in Texas for allegedly hitting his young child with a tree branch.

The attorney for Adrian Peterson, who plays for NFL side Minnesota Vikings, said the sportsman "used his judgment as a parent to discipline his son."

Mr Peterson regrets the incident and never intended to harm the four-year-old, attorney Rusty Hardin added.

The allegations come just days after another NFL star had his contract terminated for hitting his wife.

'Whooping'

According to US media reports, the incident involving Mr Peterson happened in the town of Spring, Texas, in May.

The footballer is said to have punished his son after he pushed another of his children off of a motorbike video game.

Local media said the "whooping" - which is how Mr Peterson allegedly referred to the incident during a police interview - resulted in cuts and bruises to the boy's back, buttocks, legs and scrotum.

Mr Hardin said his client was a "loving father" who had "used the same kind of discipline with his child that he experienced as a child growing up in east Texas".

"It is important to remember that Adrian never intended to harm his son and deeply regrets the unintentional injury," he added.

The football star was said to be co-operating fully with authorities but an arrest warrant was issued for him late on Friday.

The Minnesota Vikings said Mr Peterson would not be selected to play in Sunday's game against the New England Patriots.

Earlier this week, the NFL's Baltimore Ravens terminated the contract of Ray Rice, one of their star players, after the release of a video appearing to show him punching his wife.