Jose Maria Gimenez carries stricken pigeon to safety during Atlético v Real Sociedad

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·8 March 2026

Jose Maria Gimenez carried a dazed pigeon off the pitch during Atlético Madrid’s match with Real Sociedad on Saturday.

As reported by L'Équipe, the rare incident occurred at the Wanda Metropolitano on La Liga’s matchday 27.

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In the 19th minute, with the score 1-1, Koke took a quick corner and rolled the ball to his team-mate Matteo Ruggeri.

The ball seemed to take a strange bounce before reaching the Italian defender, and replays showed a pigeon had been struck while perched on the turf.

Stunned and unable to fly, the bird was gently picked up by Gimenez, who escorted it safely off the field to applause from the crowd.

Source: L'Équipe