Watch surprising second a participant kicks a PIG’S HEAD thrown onto the pitch throughout Brazilian derby between Corinthians and Palmeiras
- A pig’s head was thrown onto the pitch during Monday’s night Brazilian derby
- GRAPHIC CONTENT: The pig’s head was kicked away by a Corinthians player
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The Sao Paulo derby between Corinthians and Palmeiras was remarkably interrupted by a pig’s head being thrown onto the pitch on Monday night.
The incident took place during the first half when Palmeiras lined up to take a corner, only for Corinthians forward Yuri Alberto to notice the pig’s head on the touchline.
A clearly disgusted Alberto ran over to kick the head out of play, before a woman took it away to place it behind an advertising hoarding.
South American correspondent Tim Vickery gave his take on the extraordinary moment as he wrote on X: ‘A new one on me – the big traditional Sao Paulo derby, Corinthians v Palmeiras and someone has thrown a pig’s head on the the field (the symbol of Palmeiras is a pig)’.
Palmeiras were given the nickname ‘pigs’ by Corinthians fans in 1976 when Corinthians President Wadih Helu called his opposite number a pig after he refused to suspend a game between the two clubs following the death of two Corinthians players.
WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT BELOW
A pig’s head appeared on the pitch during Monday’s Sao Paulo derby between Corinthian and Palmeiras
Corinthians forward Yuri Alberto kicked the pig’s head from the field of play
A woman took the pig’s head away and placed it behind an advertising hoarding
Palmeiras fans responded by adopting the pig as their mascot in 1986.
ESPN Brazil reported that two fans were arrested but were released due to a lack of evidence. An investigation remains ongoing as to how the pig’s head got into the stadium.
Corinthians went on to win the match 2-0, and Alberto revealed afterwards that he almost injured himself by kicking the pig’s head.
‘I almost broke my foot. I thought it was something else, a cushion, but it was a pig’s head, I almost hurt myself,’ he told Globo Esporte.
The shocking incident evoked memories of Luis Figo being targeted by a pig’s head during El Clasico in November 2002.
Luis Figo was bombarded by objects including a pig’s head (circled) during El Clasico in 2002
Figo had left Barcelona to join Real Madrid two years earlier in a move that left fans of the Catalan club furious.
The Portuguese star was jeered throughout the 2002 clash, and had a pig’s head thrown at him when he went to take a corner.
The match was subsequently suspended before resuming 16 minutes later.
