Whistle-happy parrot red carded for simulation
Saturday January 24 2009
HEARD the one about the parrot who got sent off at a match?
It's no joke. A nine-year-old Senegalese parrot caused chaos at a recent cup game in Hertfordshire between Hatfield Town and Hertford Heath when it started imitating the referee's whistle.
The bird had originally caused a few heads to turn when a woman turned up with it to watch the game, although for the first half it was on its best behaviour.
However, 10 minutes into the second half the parrot, called Me-Tu, started mimicking the referee's whistle every time it blew and also began squawking 'pretty boy' at some of the players.
Referee Gary Bailey had no choice but to ask Me-Tu's owner, Irene Corrigan, to leave the game.
Undaunted by her bird's dismissal, Irene insisted that she will return again.
"He loves his football and I'll take him back down there," she said.
