A bear’s performance at a Russian soccer match on Saturday is being criticized by a New York animal rights group, which claimed harsh training methods were used on the animal.
The bear, named Tina, clapped at spectators and handed a soccer ball to a referee before a third-tier match in Pyatigorsk, according to television footage of the match, ABC News reported.
The stadium announcer told everyone the bear also will be part of the World Cup opening ceremony in Moscow in June, but World Cup organizers said that was not true, ABC News reported.
The New York animal rights organization Animal Protection Group said Monday the footage showed that “cruel training methods” were used on the bear, although it did not specify what methods it thought were used, Fox News reported.
Mashuk-KMV club manager Rustam Dudov said the bear was borrowed from a traveling circus that suggested to the club that the bear perform before the game, ABC News reported. According to Dudov, the Russian Football Union approved the performance.
Most people on Twitter seemed to agree with the group that the bear’s use was unacceptable.