Deportivo Pereira defender Luis Moreno kicks Atlético Junior's owl mascot during match
Panama defender Luis Moreno is facing sanctions after he kicked an injured owl
that had landed on the field during a league game for his Colombian club
Deportivo Pereira against Atlético Junior.
By Telegraph staff and agencies
8:00PM GMT 28 Feb 2011
The owl was being treated Monday at a local veterinary clinic in Barranquilla
after Moreno had kicked the bird and is expected to recover from a suspected
minor fracture to its right leg.
The bird, which serves as mascot for Atlético Junior, was first struck by the
ball near the Pereira penalty area prompting the referee to stop play.
As the referee and players discussed what to do Moreno - apparently impatient
over the delay with his team losing 2-1 - was seen to kick the bird towards
the touch-line with his left foot.
"The player should be severely punished for this painful, horrible act of
intolerance," Ramon Jesurum, president of Dimayor [the Colombian
league], said before adding that the case would go before the Dimayor's
disciplinary committee.
Atletico Junior fans chanted "murderer" at the Panamanian player, according to
Colombian media. He was also reprimanded by opponents and apologised after
the game.
"I apologise to the fans, it wasn't my intention," he said as he left the
field escorted by police.
That is fantastic.
