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Summary A player caused uproar and faced severe sanctions for kicking an owl which was lying prostrate on the pitch during a Colombian championship match over the weekend. The owl died on Tuesday.
The Atletico Junior team was leading when the bird was first struck by the ball near the Pereira team penalty area during the match at Atletico Junior, prompting the referee to stop play.As the referee and players discussed what to do, Pereira defender Luis Moreno -- apparently impatient over the delay with his team losing 2-1 -- was seen to kick the bird towards the touch-line with his left foot.Atletico Junior fans chanted murderer at the Panamanian player. He was also reprimanded by opponents and apologised after the game. Moreno expressed regret after the passing of the owl. The owl, rescued by ground staff, was taken to a vet, where it died on Tuesday of a respiratory arrest.Ramon Jesurum, president of the Colombian league (Dimayor), said in a radio interview that the case would go before the Dimayors disciplinary committee.
