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Chicken on pitch at Heracles vs Heerenveen
(Image: Twitter/FOX Sports)

VIDEO: Chicken on pitch at Heracles vs Heerenveen

Referee forced to stop Dutch Eredivisie clash after less than three minutes played.

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https://twitter.com/FOXSportsnl/status/1157960172352004097

Heerenveen’s trip to Heracles in the Dutch Eredivisie was interrupted by a chicken on the pitch in the first-half.

Shortly after kick-off at Polman Stadion in Almelo on Sunday, the referee stopped the match due to the unexpected intrusion.

https://twitter.com/fotos_ultras/status/1157961042682626052

Possibly smuggled into the ground and released by a supporter, the elegant bird suddenly appeared near one of the penalty areas in the third minute.

23-year-old Heracles captain Dario Van den Buijs took it upon himself to approach the chicken but was quickly outmanoeuvred.

Kip met ambities. #heracles #erveasito #herhee pic.twitter.com/gOcTieCa28

— Laura Smit (@annalaura87) August 4, 2019

Bijzonder. 'Supporters' van Heracles bekogelen het veld met eieren en laten een haan los op het veld. Supporters Heerenveen zingen Warner Hahn toe. #herhee #heracles pic.twitter.com/2sQes1nHuv

— Stan Waning (@stanwaning) August 4, 2019

One of the stadium staff was eventually able to catch it, garnering a cheer from the crowd observing the chase.

The home fans had thrown eggs onto the pitch before the game as part of a protest against the stadium being renamed.

https://twitter.com/MolekoJnr/status/1157960571330924546