Mysterious Dog Steals the Show at Football Championship

April 1, 2001 Athens, Greece

So what exactly are the rules in international football (soccer) when a player has four feet?

This week's Greece-Germany International Football Championship qualifier had to call a four-minute timeout when a spry, shaggy stray decided to join the game.

In the first 10 minutes of the match, which was being televised and broadcast across Europe, a runaway dog appeared on the field and began weaving through the game, dodging and ducking past all the players.

The enthusiastic pooch was finally grabbed by German reserve goalie Marcus Proell and carried off, wagging its tail.

Stray dogs have been stirring quite a commotion in the Greek capital city.  Awarded host for the 2004 Olympics, Athens and its government have been going to extremes to decrease the population of roaming dogs.

Last year, the city received much negative publicity when there was discovered to be evidence of mass dog-poisonings.

Read more about dogs in Greece from:
The BBC News
Letters from the Citizens of Greece

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