On Sunday mornings across the country, seeing animals dart across football fields is almost expected. But when the same thing happens at the home grounds of Premier League giants like Arsenal or Liverpool? Now that’s a different kind of matchday entertainment.
Over the years, the animal kingdom has made some memorable cameos during games — leading to hilarious chases, unexpected stoppages, and a few legendary snapshots. From fluffy pitch invaders to six-legged giants, here are 11 unforgettable moments where the animals stole the show.
Champions League Squirrel
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Highbury. Champions League semi-final. The stakes are high, the tension palpable… and then a squirrel sprints across the pitch mid-match.
Arsenal and Villarreal players could only watch in confusion as the furry intruder did its thing. To top it off, the squirrel managed to get snapped with Diego Forlan.
Legendary behaviour. Frame it. Hang it in a museum.
That’s Ducking Annoying
During a Belgian league clash between Zulte Waregem and Lokeren, former Leeds striker Habib Habibou found himself chasing… a duck. At first, it was a gentle jog after the lost bird, but then things escalated.
The duck was scooped up and launched over the advertising boards. Animal cruelty? Maybe. But the duck seemed fine. It waddled off, completely unbothered. Sergio Ramos would’ve stayed down clutching something for a solid twenty minutes.
The Venky’s Chicken
At Blackburn Rovers games, supporters unhappy with their club’s owners (the Venky’s, a chicken conglomerate from India) have taken to releasing actual chickens onto the pitch. The birds usually come wearing the club’s colours too, just to hammer home the message. Angry, dramatic and poultry-based protest. You have to respect the commitment.
Feisty One, You Are
In a 2013 Swiss league game between FC Thun and FC Zurich, a pine marten sprinted onto the field, chaos in its eyes. Players tried and failed to catch it, only for the critter to double back and come charging again.
Eventually, Zurich defender Loris Benito managed to catch it. The pine marten wasn’t impressed and promptly bit him. Now that’s a red card offence.
Ouch (The Oliver Kahn Incident)
In 2007, during a DFB Pokal match, legendary German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn suddenly clutched his neck in pain. Was it a fan? A stray object? A sneaky elbow? Nope — it was a wasp.
That’s right. A wasp stung the man who once tried to eat a striker alive. Kahn shrugged it off, of course. Bit of vinegar and he was good to go.
A Really Giant Grasshopper
At the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Colombia’s James Rodriguez scored a penalty. Nice goal, big celebration — and then, bam. A giant grasshopper landed right on him.
This thing was massive. Some fans didn’t notice. Others still haven’t slept properly since. Nothing like a surreal insect cameo to spice up the beautiful game.
Helping Animals Gets You Nothing
During a 2017 match between Watford and Manchester City, Watford’s M’Baye Niang stopped play to rescue a tiny bird stuck on the pitch. The crowd applauded. It was wholesome.
Then City scored five goals and Watford got thrashed. Moral of the story? Kindness might be its own reward, but it won’t keep you from getting battered by Pep Guardiola’s machine.
The Anfield Cat
One of the Premier League’s most iconic pitch invasions. During a Liverpool vs Tottenham clash in 2012, a cat casually strolled across Anfield. The fans loved it. A Twitter account popped up almost instantly and racked up over 30,000 followers in just a few hours. Even the club weighed in, joking about whether the cat was related to their old unofficial mascot Moglet, adopted by staff in the 80s. “With King Kenny’s men back at Wembley in the Carling Cup final this year, is this new cat a long-lost relative of Moglet?” asked a club spokesman.
Ekstraklasa Puppy Mayhem
During a Polish league match between Polonia Bytom and Wisla Krakow, a very enthusiastic dog found its way onto the pitch.
It wasn’t there to disrupt. It wasn’t there to protest. It just wanted cuddles and a bit of affection. Honestly, same.
Howson’s Pigeon
During his Norwich days, Jonny Howson noticed a pigeon injured on the Upton Park pitch. Without hesitation, he picked it up and carried it off to safety.
The crowd loved it. Footballers are usually known for sliding tackles, not pigeon rescue. But Howson’s compassion earned him a special place in football folklore.
What a Hoot
In a Euro 2008 qualifier between Finland and Belgium, a majestic eagle owl landed on the pitch mid-game. It did not care one bit that an international match was underway.
The Finnish crowd broke into chants of “bubo, bubo” — which literally just means “owl, owl.” Sometimes, the simplest cheers are the best. The owl didn’t flinch. Iconic behaviour.
From ducks and squirrels to wasps and grasshoppers, football has had no shortage of wild visitors. These pitch invasions might not have changed the outcome of the games, but they definitely made them unforgettable.