Japanese soccer club criticized for using monkey in kick-off

Japanese club Cerezo Osaka caused a controversy by having a monkey dressed up in a miniature kit hand the match ball to the referee before a match on November 26.

The league contest between Cerezo Osaka and its rival Vissel Kobe took place at Osaka's Nagai stadium.

The hosts decided to invite a small macaque to take center stage during the pre-match ceremonies. The monkey was dressed in a pink Osaka kit and walked to the side of the pitch, where he took up position in front of the two teams.

As the home supporters cheered, the monkey presented the ball to referee Hiromu Kimura, before leaving the pitch.

The pre-match monkey business appeared to work in Osaka's favor as Kenyu Sugimoto and Matej Jonjic fired them to a 3-1 win over Lukas Podolski's Vissel Kobe.

However, animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has condemned Cerezo Osaka for using a monkey to kick off a match.

PETA, which campaigns for completely ethical treatment of animals, has expressed its disgust at the stunt, insisting that the monkey is being used "as a living prop".

PETA’s UK director Elisa Allen claimed: "PETA urges the J League to call a red card on using animals for any stunts and to retire this monkey to an accredited sanctuary where he or she can enjoy some semblance of a natural life."

The J League has yet to comment.

(CGTN)