Snooker match halted by a fly and other animal pitch invasions
- Published
Snooker player Mark Williams had to contend with an unwanted visitor during his match at the Masters this week. The Welshman was about to make a crucial shot against Ali Carter when a fly landed on the red ball he was aiming for. Williams hoped the critter would move before he took aim but it wasn't budging. The player went for it anyway, joking, "He's going to get it now!". Luckily, the ball only required a light knock, causing the fly to jump off and fly away.
A highly venomous eastern brown snake has interfered with a tennis match. Dominic Thiem was vying to qualify for the Brisbane International in Australia when the sneaky snake was spied at the edge of the court. Play stopped for 40 minutes while the 50cm long scary was carefully removed by an expert. After going on to win the game, Thiem said "I really love animals, especially exotic ones... It's something that has never happened to me and is something I'll definitely never forget".
These cricketers in Wellington in New Zealand haven't given up and they're not having a nap either. They are actually lying down because of a swarm of bees invading their cricket pitch. The insects are hard to see in the picture because bees are really small. The players from Wellington and Canterbury as well as the umpire all dropped for cover, only carrying on with the match once the bees had flown away.
This fluffy alpaca wandered onto the pitch during a match between non league side Ilkley Town and Carlton Athletic in west Yorkshire. Do you think he played for Woolly-verhapton?
A stray feline stopped a footy game at Goodison Park for several minutes after making it’s way onto the pitch. The furry black cat cause a delay to the Wolves v Everton game proving to be bad luck for the Toffees who lost to Wolverhampton 3-1.
Bird on the pitch! A little bird had to be gently escorted off the pitch by two of Spain's World Cup stars. Gerard Pique and Isco both had to pick up their little feathered friend and take him to safety before their game with Iran.
Many people spend their lives hoping to play on the pitch at Manchester City. But this squirrel actually managed it. Unfortunately for the squirrel he wasn't allowed to stay to watch the game. Ground staff had to escort the furry fella off the pitch before the start of the Carabao Cup Fourth Round match between Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Etihad Stadium.
A swarm of flying ants arrived at Wimbledon last year, annoying loads of players, umpires and tennis fans. Urgh! It happens every year when the tiny flying ants come out to find a mate. But how do they all know which day to meet up on? Not even scientists know that yet. Weird!
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the world's biggest players - and it seems he's loved by.... moths. A massive swarm of the insects flew into the Euro 2016 final in Paris, France, after workers left the stadium lights on the night before.
Seeing this on your arm might give you a bit of a scare if you don't like insects! This giant grasshopper jumped on to Colombian forward James Rodriguez's arm during a match against Brazil in a 2014 World Cup quarter-final.
It's not just football that has its supporters in the animal kingdom, this monkey seems to love his cricket...or maybe he just spotted a banana. Either way, the match went ahead and the monkey unfortunately didn't get any runs at all.
A little bird flew onto the pitch to join the second half of a Premier League game between Manchester City and Watford in 2017. Watford's M'Baye Niang gently picked it up and handed it safely over to a match official. Sadly M'Baye's good deed didn't help the score - Watford still lost 5-nil.
No one told this squirrel that there are no nuts on a football pitch! The critter ran on during a Champions League match between Arsenal and Villareal in 2006.
Foxes are often known as being shy animals but this one doesn't seem to mind people...lots of people! This foxy dude popped onto the pitch during a 6 Nations rugby match between England and Scotland. Which team do you think he supports?
Cats and squirrels are one thing but a DINOSAUR?! Ok, so it's not a real dinosaur but it would certainly give you a jump if you found it walking around your local park.
- Published19 May 2018
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