This archive report was first published on 12 November 2019.
On Sunday, a disturbing incident occurred during a semi-professional football match in eastern Croatia. A brood of chickens ran onto the pitch, prompting one of the players, Ivan Gazdek from NK Jelengrad, to chase after them.
Gazdek, a 23-year-old player, kicked one of the chickens with his foot, causing it to die instantly. The incident was widely condemned by animal rights groups, who described the act as 'shameful' and 'cowardly'.
The NGO Animal Friends has announced plans to file charges against Gazdek for the 'criminal act of animal killing or torture'. If found guilty, the player could face up to one year in prison.
Gazdek has defended his actions, claiming that the killing was 'not intentional'. He stated that he was trying to chase the chickens away and accidentally kicked one to death.
However, the Animal Friends group remains unconvinced, pointing out that the pitch is often plagued by unhygienic conditions, including chicken faeces. They argue that this is a clear indication of the need for better animal control measures.
