No to circus bear at World Cup: animal rights groups slam use of ‘Tima’ in pre-match show
The animal is led out at the Mashuk-KMV Pyatigorsk and hands over the ball to the referee before the start of the game
Animal rights groups have condemned the use of a bear that performed before a Russian soccer match.
The routine happened before a Russia second division match on Sunday in the city of Pyatigorsk. TV footage from the game showed the animal being led to the Mashuk-KMV Pyatigorsk club’s stadium, clapping at spectators. The bear, named Tima, also held the ball before handing it over to the referee.
The stadium’s announcer claimed that the bear will take part in the World Cup’s opening ceremony in Moscow in June, but soccer authorities haven’t confirmed that. The club’s manager says it was borrowed from a circus.
The New York-based World Animal Protection group condemned the stunt on Monday, saying that it’s clear from the footage that “cruel training methods have been used” on the bear.
The incident came at about the same time that Russia’s Premier League announced it was following the lead of its English counterparts by launching an animal logo to win over fans: a red-eyed bear.