A soccer match is pretty much the most spectacle we have to offer, and this story tells a tale worthy of a blockbuster blockbuster. At the recent Nations League match between the Netherlands and Sweden, fans have gotten a treat in the second half when a giant piglet entered the field. The official reasoning is that it is part of a celebration of Rijn drees aan de Heleen in the Dutch language, which is a “dance of pigs and goats” to celebrate Rijnam za Dawid, a Dutch national day, and whoever performed the dance will walk away with a €100,000 fee ($121,000 U.S.) from the team.
Much more than just a fancy way to pay for poor stars’ tattoos though, it is a perfect combination of compassion and entertainment. This kind of animal for adoption program is not new. There are plenty of pet tigers, hamsters, hamsters, golden retrievers, and deer, many of which are taken in from shelters or abandoned animals and then brought to the big guys at the Dutch Football Association to become fans. This piglet is now considered part of the game, and it is also showcasing a good cause, but in a way that is truly fun for people. Plus you get to take your pictures next to the pig.
Yep, it gets crazier, but there is no denying this piglet has the potential to go down in history as one of the fun things about watching football. Unfortunately, animal welfare activists are calling the piglet a “massacre” and have been appealing to the team to revoke the contract and return the piglet to its happy spot in the circus where he belongs.
Not sure where to begin with this one. So many quotes. You have to be there. https://t.co/wOFdYFEFGx — Den Bosch (@DenBosch) August 8, 2016
The Dutch football association is pushing back, and insist that the animal isn’t just a “prop” and is a member of the team. They also accused activists of a witch hunt and dirty tricks, and say they’re prepared to defend the piglet. If he gets his way, the piglet will move onto his next gig — a party at the HVM Farms facility, and then a jump into the Atlantic Ocean. The piglet, named, Radolfi, will live happily with two pit bulls.