Owl-kicking defender banned for booting opponent
Reuters - Thursday 14 April 2011, 14:49
BOGOTA - The player suspended for two
matches after kicking an owl in a Colombian first division match
has been handed a seven-match ban for similar treatment to an
opponent.
Pereira's defender Luis Moreno will miss the rest of the
Apertura championship's 18-match round-robin phase following an
incident during a 2-1 defeat at Deportivo Cali last weekend.
The Panamanian was shown a straight red card for kicking
Cali's Pablo Andres Escobar in the midriff when he was lying on
the ground after being fouled.
Moreno must also pay two fines totalling 731,973 Colombian
pesos ($402.3), according to the latest list of sanctions posted
on the league governing body Dimayor's website.
Seven weeks ago, Moreno caused an outrage when he kicked an
owl in a match at Atletico Junior in Barranquilla. The bird,
which died later, was regarded as a Junior mascot. It was by the
touchline having been hit by the ball.
The incident infuriated home fans and animal rights groups
and shocked television viewers. The Dimayor suspended Moreno for
two matches and fined him around $560.