WATCH: Bizarre scenes as hamster smuggled into Walsall v Barnsley
A football fan smuggled his pet hamster into the match at Walsall FC over the weekend, which has raised concern with an animal welfare group.
Pictures and videos have surfaced on social media of a Barnsley Football Club supporter with the rodent in his hood during the League One match up at the Banks's Stadium on Saturday.
Fellow supporters are seen pointing and chanting towards the hamster, who is known as Hector, and a group of fans even sing a chant in his honour: "He's got a hamster in his hood, he's got a hamster in his hood."
Meanwhile, the RSPCA condemned the move and have said it is likely to have been an 'extremely stressful' experience for the animal.
Spokesperson for the charity, Sara Howlett, said: "Taking any animal to a noisy, crowded environment such as a football match is likely to be stressful.
"This is particularly the case for hamsters which are nocturnal animals that spend most of the day sleeping and become active in the evening and at night.
"Being taken away from its home environment in the daytime and having its routine disturbed in this way, especially at the time of year when some hamsters hibernate, would be extremely stressful for this poor animal.
"These are animals that need a predictable routine with warmth, peace and quiet and a place to hide in if needed."
The travelling side turned out 3-1 winners against Walsall, which lifted them to sixth place in the table.
Subsequently, manager of Walsall Sean O'Driscoll was sacked from his duties with the club after after just 16 games in charge.
