In an unexpected turn of events at the MKM Stadium on Saturday, the Championship match between Hull City and Bristol City was temporarily disrupted by a furry pitch invader: a squirrel. The incident, which occurred midway through the second half with Bristol City leading 3-1, brought the game to a halt as the rodent sprinted across the field.

The squirrel's first appearance happened around the 54th minute, just after Emil Riis had extended Bristol City's lead. The interruption lasted for approximately three minutes as stewards attempted to capture the agile creature, showcasing "dazzling agility" as it evaded capture. Despite the stewards' efforts, the squirrel returned to the pitch roughly five minutes later, causing further delay and amusement among the 20,000 fans in attendance.

Hull City's official X account acknowledged the bizarre interruption with a post stating: "A halt in play due to a disruptive squirrel". The unusual incident quickly gained traction on social media, with videos of the squirrel's escapades going viral. Many fans found humor in the situation, cheering as the squirrel ran across the goal line and into the back of the net.

Hull City also made light of the situation on social media, quipping, "Play resumes after being 'mauled by the squirrel,'" referencing their famous "Mauled By The Tigers" chant. Bristol City's manager, Gerhard Struber, also commented on the pitch invader, saying, "The lovely squirrel was on the way. It was funny to see; no-one can catch it…".

While the squirrel's antics provided a temporary distraction, the match itself ended in a 3-2 victory for Bristol City. Ollie McBurnie scored first for Hull City in the 24th minute, but Bristol City responded with goals from Robert Atkinson, Nahki Wells and Emil Riis. Kieran Dowell scored a second goal for Hull City in the 78th minute, but it wasn't enough to prevent Bristol City from securing the win.

Some suggest that the squirrel's interventions had a tangible impact on the game. The two lengthy stoppages disrupted Bristol City's momentum, allowing Hull City to regroup and ultimately pull a goal back. The referee added ten minutes of "squirrel time" to compensate for the delays, adding to the tension as Hull City searched for an equalizer.

The match was preceded by a minute of silence to honor those lost in the Triple Trawler Tragedy of 1968 and the Gaul disaster of February 1974, events deeply significant to the city of Hull.