A pig’s head was thrown on to the pitch during a game between Sao Paulo rivals Corinthians and Palmeiras in the Brazilian championship.

The incident occurred as Palmeiras prepared to take a corner in the first half and Corinthians forward Yuri Alberto ran from the penalty box to kick it off the pitch before play continued.

Alberto went on to score as Corinthians won the game 2-0.

“I almost broke my foot, I thought it was a cushion, I went to take it off with my foot, I kind of kicked it. It was a pig’s head, I almost hurt my foot,” Alberto told O Globo’s SporTV., external

“A new one on me – the big traditional Sao Paulo derby, Corinthians v Palmeiras and someone has thrown a pig’s head on the the field (the symbol of Palmeiras is a pig),” South American football correspondent Tim Vickery posted on X.

The situation was reminiscent of when Barcelona fans threw a pig’s head on to the pitch when their former midfielder Luis Figo returned to the Nou Camp playing for arch-rivals Real Madrid in 2002.

Globo and ESPN Brazil, external reported that police are investigating and two fans were arrested following the incident, before being released.

Palmeiras fans adopted the pig as their mascot in 1986.

In a match against Santos they heard rival fans chanting “pig” and responded by shouting “And go for it Pig! Ole Ole Ole”.

A few days later sports magazine Placar published a picture of Palmeiras player Jorginho Putinatti holding a pig in his arms.