New York pigeon gets lost

... Paris, fans were banned from gathering inside the Parc des Princes – so they gathered outside and had a party

1 A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

When Paris Saint- Germain fans were told they wouldn’t be allowed into the Parc des Princes for their Champions League last- 16 second leg with Borussia Dortmund, they had an alternative idea: turn up for a big party outside the stadium instead.

It rather defeated the point of the decision to play the game behind closed doors – to prevent gatherings, because of the coronavirus – but those who did show up experienced an evening they’re unlikely to forget.

PSG won to overturn a first- leg deficit and reach the quarter- finals for the first time in four years, sparking celebrations both inside and outside the ground.

First, the players gathered together to do ‘ zen’ poses on the pitch, mocking teenage striker Erling Haaland’s goal celebration in the first leg. Then they went out to the balcony, to greet their raucous fans.

Angel Di Maria was so excited he tore his shirt off, as the Argentine attacker conducted flare- wielding supporters in song. These are strange times, indeed.

2 THE WAY TO SAN JOSE

Pigeons are renowned for their sense of direction, but sadly New York City FC’S pigeon mascot doesn’t possess quite the same skills.

While the birds use magnetic fields to reach far- flung destinations, the NYCFC mascot – a bloke in a mask – can’t even fly to the right city.

Drawn against San Carlos for his club’s first CONCACAF Champions League match, the pigeon thought he’d booked a flight to San Jose in Costa Rica – only to turn up at the gate and realise he was off to San Jose in California, 3,000km away.

Thankfully, the club stepped in and booked him another flight. In rather more fitting pigeon tradition, he was absolutely fine finding his way home.

3 BLIND DEVOTION

Only one fan was allowed to watch Valencia’s Champions League clash with Atalanta from the Mestalla stands: Vicente Navarro... who actually died in 2017.

Navarro was a respected supporter who went blind four decades ago after suffering from a detached retina, but he retained his season ticket each year, determined to cheer on Los Che and soak up the atmosphere.

After he passed away, a statue was created in his honour and installed in row 15, seat 164 – the place where he had sat for so many seasons.

When Valencia took on Atalanta, in a match played behind closed doors, the only seat to be occupied was the one housing Navarro’s statue.

4 SUIT YOU, SIR?

Shamrock Rovers ultras were taking no chances during their League of Ireland clash at Sligo – by turning up in decontamination suits.

The League of Ireland campaign was five matches old when the coronavirus enforced a shutdown, but in their last round of games, Shamrock had time to visit Sligo’s Showgrounds stadium on the west coast.

Their approach to health and safety was slightly contradictory, however: hazmat suits and face masks to ward off infectious diseases, but a few flares just to mix things up a bit.

The table- topping visitors won 3- 2 to maintain their 100 per cent record ( and Sligo’s losing run); thankfully, with no accidental burn victims in sight.

5 “OK CARLOS, THAT’S ENOUGH NOW...”

There was only one fitting way for the Argentine league season to end: with Carlos Tevez kissing Diego Maradona.

Now the manager of Gimnasia, Boca legend Maradona took his team to La Bombonera for the final fixture of the season. He was greeted before kick- off by an unexpectedly amorous smooch from Tevez, one of Diego’s men during his time in charge of the national team.

Tevez then bagged a late winner as Boca triumphed 1- 0, allowing them to steal the league title from arch rivals River Plate, who could surprisingly only draw 1- 1 with Atletico Tucuman. If he was ready to snog Maradona’s face off before the match, Lord knows what he would have done at the end.

6 WOOF DEVELOPMENT

Last month we brought you news of rioting at a Chilean football match – no such problem at Colo Colo, who welcomed some cuddly dogs instead.

The Santiago side had previously walked out for kick- off with canine mascots for a home game against Antofagasta in 2017, and they were at it again shortly before their Copa Libertadores fixture against Brazilian visitors Athletico Paranaense.

The scheme was designed to raise awareness of adoption – all the dogs introduced before the match were available for a new home, as long as they didn’t chew the goalposts and wee in the centre circle.

7 “JUST CALL ME ADI. NO REALLY, I INSIST...”

Eintracht Frankfurt’s Austrian coach was christened Adolf Hutter ( thanks, mum and dad), so it’s little surprise that he chooses to go by ‘ Adi’ instead.

“You can imagine I’m not 100 per cent happy with my name,” he once said. Eintracht’s fans have generally been pretty happy with him, though – Hutter led them to last term’s Europa Europa League semis, so they created a papier mache figure depicting him as a construction worker who’d built the club’s recent success.

The figure was unveiled for a parade bringing an end to Frankfurt’s carnival activities, just before all outdoor fun was banned forever.

8 LIGUE 1 FIXTURE AT 8, SWIMMING LESSON AT 9

What do you do when a nasty clash of heads leaves you with blood pouring from your bonce? You finish the game in a swimming cap, of course.

That’s what Dario Benedetto did in Marseille’s game against Amiens – the forward played for Boca Juniors in the infamous Libertadores final with River Plate, so this was just a mere skirmish.

Marseille is known for its swimming talent, producing a host of Olympians – as soon as Benedetto left the field, the French Rebecca Adlington turned up and said: “Here, take zis cap.”

Benedetto failed to score, but he did later set a new Argentine record for the 1500m butterfly.

9“I HEREBY NAME YOU... BRIAN, THE LION”

FFT always likes a well- named mascot, so Bayer Leverkusen’s Brian The Lion is one of our favourites.

Football would be so much better if every mascot’s name rhymed: send for Rab The Crab, Rita The Cheetah and Ruffalo The Buffalo, a bison- type beast with a talent for acting.

Brian’s looking a bit bedraggled these days – like the Honey Monster after too many adventures through the washing machine – but he was in decent spirits against Augsburg, putting on a special carnival hat and cape.

He’s hoping Leverkusen soon have to face Beitar Jerusalem in Europe, so he can be Brian The Lion in Zion.