Parrot owner apologizes after bird disrupts soccer match

By Izzy Hawksworth via SWNS

A soccer team was left "sick as a parrot" when they threw away a 4-0 lead after their game was disrupted by a field invasion from a macaw.

Carla Brown's beloved pet Blu interrupted the cup game in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, between Stromness and Hotspurs after being spooked by a seagull and crows.

Hotspurs were in a commanding 4-0 lead at the time of the avian intrusion, but the game finished 5-5 before hosts Stromness won on penalties.

Red-faced Carla issued a public apology to the players, but Stromness joked they were thinking of adopting Blu as their lucky mascot after their remarkable comeback.

Carla said: "Stromness were down 4 - 0 at the time but they made a good recovery when the match re-started.

"So at least it was lucky for them. A couple of players on Facebook said it was good distraction and said it was a good comeback for them so they were delighted."

Two-year-old Blu was out free flying last Thursday evening when a seagull and a group of crows suddenly scared him and started chasing him.

The bird then flew into a soccer field near where he lives in Orkney, Scotland.

Blu, who is around three feet tall, then started flying between the players, which forced the match to be paused.

Carla and her husband Derek, 53, dashed down to the field to collect Blu and the game continued.

When the local FA shared news of the game on social media, one wag quipped: "Bet it’s good on the wing."

Others joked Blue should get a shirt and be made an honorary part of the team.

Carla, who has owned Blu since he was ten months old, said: "He obviously decided that going to the football match was safer because of all the people and then the birds won't chase him.

"He decided this was a good time to fly between all the players who are playing football so he stopped the whole match.

"He was squawking loudly while he lost the birds. I was very apologetic as it's not something I would encourage and I went straight to Facebook to say sorry.

"Although I knew why he did it, I knew that other people wouldn't."

Carla says Blu often goes flying in the local area with her and that a lot of the locals know him.

She said: "He generally stays where I am and normally I call him and he comes back.

"On occasions, he does get spooked and he will fly a little further to go somewhere safe.

"I try to take him to fly to places where I can see him because I wouldn't want him to get hurt.

"A lot of people know Blu, he's definitely getting out and about and a lot more attention now.

"I try and take him as many places as I can, so if I'm at home then he's generally with me but if I'm going out, then I try to take him."