Just when we think we have seen it all, something new always happens. This time it happened in Brazil in a Campeonato Mineiro game between rivals Atletico Mineiro and Cruzeiro. In the derby match between two of the biggest teams in the Minas Gerais state, things got a little heated between a player and Atletico Mineiro’s mascot known as “The Rooster”.
During the match, which Atletico Mineiro won 2-1 in the final minute of the game, in the 70th minute when Vitor Roque scored Cruzeiro’s only goal and at that moment it was the first goal of the game, the rooster was positioned behind one of the goals and when a Cruzeiro player tried to celebrate the rooster jumped in front of the player throwing his arm out to stop him from celebrating in front of the home crowd.
The Minas Gerais state football federation quickly took matters into their own hands and handed the popular mascot with a one game suspension for an “intimidatory gesture” towards the opponent.
Statement issued by Minas Gerais state football federation after mascot incident
Atletico Mineiro’s mascot ‘Galo’ (Globo)
The Minas Gerais state football federation issued a statement that the ban was a result of trying to end further practices of this kind in the future by stating the need to “adopt pedagogical methods to stop similar practices.”
For “Galo”, rooster in Portuguese, it will mean he will be watching the next home game against Atletico Caldense on March 19 from the sidelines or without his trusty rooster outfit.
