‘There's a f***ing chicken on the pitch' – Legendary ref reveals moment he had to stop game in bizarre scenes
referee Mark Clattenburg
hilariously recalled the time a CHICKEN invaded the pitch during one of his Premier League games.
After the Anfield cat, came the
the Blackburn chicken
who appeared during a relegation dogfight at Ewood Park in 2012.
4
A chicken walks across the pitch during the Barclays Premier League match between Blackburn Rovers and Wigan Athletic
Credit: Getty
4
A protest chicken wearing a Blackburn Rovers cape with the word 'Out'
Credit: PA:Empics Sport
4
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg recalled the legendary moment on a podcast this week
A chicken was released onto pitch during
It wasn't a prank either but a protest against then-club owners Venky's, an Indian poultry company that specialises in chicken meat processing.
The bird was wearing a Blackburn flag as a cape with a note tied to it that read: "Out".
The chicken strolled onto the pitch early in the first half prompting Clattenburg to blow his whistle.
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And it left a mark on Clattenburg who recollected the hilarious moment to a new generation of footie fans 13 years later.
The 50-year-old told the
"There was a big protest against the Venky's and the ball was the other end, and the assistant was at the other end.
"He was shouting 'stop the game'. 'stop the game'.
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"I was thinking 'stop the f***ing game, what's he on about?' There's nothing wrong, there's no free-kick play on.
"But he said 'stop the game the game there's a f***ing chicken on the pitch'.
'It can be quite toxic... not healthy' - Shaw gives brutal verdict of Man Utd's failings but backs Amorim's tough stance Sky Sports
"I went 'f*** off man'. A Premier League game you know. So I turned around and there was Paul Robinson chasing a chicken around the pitch live on
Sky
."
But Clattenburg got it slightly wrong - the chicken was actually chased and caught in the goal net by Wigan keeper Ali Al Habsi and Blackburn's Yakubu.
After play resumed, Blackburn, who were once Premier League champions in 1995, were relegated to the Championship after losing 1-0 to the Latics.
And just to rub in their rivals' misfortune,
.
4
Former Tottenham keeper Brad Friedel watches a cat walk across the pitch at Anfield in 2012
Credit: Getty - Contributor
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