A parrot attack halted a Brazilian youth football match between Flamengo and Ceara on Saturday, forcing the referee to stop play twice during the Brazil Under-15 Cup game.
The disruption began just 17 minutes into the first half. As a Flamengo defender tried to pass the ball to a team-mate, a blue-and-yellow parrot swooped down toward him, forcing him to dive to the floor in panic.
The bird then appeared set to target another player before flying away at the last moment. It went on to pester several other players on the pitch, prompting the referee to pause the match before it eventually flew off.
The parrot returned about 25 minutes later, coming down to perch on the pitch and causing a second stoppage.
Bird identified as a macaw
The parrot was later identified as a blue and yellow macaw, a species typically found in the tropical rainforests of South America.
Flamengo took a 1-0 lead in the match, but, perhaps affected by the stoppages, went on to lose 2-1.
Not the first bird interruption
Bird interference in football is unusual but not unprecedented. Earlier this year, an amateur match in Turkey between Istanbul Yurdum and Mevlanakapi Guzelhisar was halted when a seagull was struck by the ball.
The bird fell to the ground, and players rushed to help it. Istanbul Yurdum captain Gani Catan gave the seagull CPR before carrying it to the side of the pitch, where it received further medical treatment.
