Japanese soccer club criticized for using monkey in kick-off

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Japanese club Cerezo Osaka caused a controversy by having a monkey dressed up in a miniature kit hand the match ball to the referee before a match on November 26.

The league contest between Cerezo Osaka and its rival Vissel Kobe took place at Osaka's Nagai stadium.

The hosts decided to invite a small macaque to take center stage during the pre-match ceremonies. The monkey was dressed in a pink Osaka kit and walked to the side of the pitch, where he took up position in front of the two teams.

The monkey leaves the pitch for The J1-league MATCH between Cerezo Osaka and rivals Vissel Kobe. /Photo via Twitter

As the home supporters cheered, the monkey presented the ball to referee Hiromu Kimura, before leaving the pitch.

The pre-match monkey business appeared to work in Osaka's favor as Kenyu Sugimoto and Matej Jonjic fired them to a 3-1 win over Lukas Podolski's Vissel Kobe.

However, animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has condemned Cerezo Osaka for using a monkey to kick off a match.

PETA, which campaigns for completely ethical treatment of animals, has expressed its disgust at the stunt, insisting that the monkey is being used "as a living prop".

PETA’s UK director Elisa Allen claimed: "PETA urges the J League to call a red card on using animals for any stunts and to retire this monkey to an accredited sanctuary where he or she can enjoy some semblance of a natural life."

The J League has yet to comment.