Shakter-Celtic sheep cull slammed by PETA

ANIMAL rights group PETA has appealed to UEFA to ban the ritual slaughter of animals in European football, after Shakter Karagandy killed a sheep before their Champions League game with Celtic.

Shakter Karagandy fans celebrate their side's win. Picture: SNS

The sheep was sacrificed as the Kazakh champions began a training session at the Astana Arena on Monday. Shakter won the game 2-0 the following day.

At the pre-match press conference, the Kazakh club’s Russian manager Viktor Kumykov acknowledged the “tradition” but was reluctant to discuss its precise nature. It is understood the same ritual is carried out at the club before all big games.

Shakhter travel to Glasgow to play the second leg next Wednesday night.

In a letter to UEFA president Michel Platini, PETA points to UEFA’s claim to be “forward-looking” and Platini’s own words describing UEFA’s “duty to protect the game, the players and our values” and asks him to use his influence to stop any further slaughter in this season’s Champions League and Europa League.

“We are deeply disturbed that a sheep was stabbed to death in an attempt to bring good luck to the Kazakh team,” says PETA associate director Mimi Bekhechi.

“We hope Mr Platini will agree that animal sacrifice has no place in modern society, and we hope the UEFA will act swiftly and decisively to ensure that the beautiful game is not further stained with the blood of animals.”