A pigeon briefly stopped play during Atletico Madrid’s 3-2 win over Real Sociedad, with unfazed defender Jose Gimenez plucking the bird from the field and bringing it to safety.
The save came in the 22nd minute when the Uruguayan took the injured Bird off the field after he was apparently hit by the ball.
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About the incident, Gimenez said: “I asked the referee what was happening. He told me it was because of the pigeon and I said: ‘Seriously? Did you stop the match because of the pigeon?’
“I picked him up. I don’t know if there’s supposed to be a protocol. I hope he wasn’t seriously hurt.”
It was Gimenez’s second assist of the match after setting up Atletico’s opener, launching a long throw for Alexander Sorloth to score in the fifth minute.
Carlos Soler then responded for the visitors four minutes later.
Nicolas Gonzalez then scored twice either side of a Mikel Oyarzabal goal as Diego Simeone’s side strengthened their grip on third place in the championship.
José Giménez picks up the pigeon… (Getty Images)
…and carries him off the field before dropping him off (Getty Images)
