Euro 2016 final attacked by thousands of moths after stadium’s floodlights were left on the night before
Frantic clean-up underway as players and officials forced to swat away bugs ahead of big kick-off
A PLAGUE of moths attacked players and officials just an hour before the start of the Euro 2016 final between Portugal and France.
A Twitter account aptly named "The Ronaldo Moth" soon appeared online, and has received 1,500 retweets in 20 minutes on its first post: "I'M SORRY @CRISTIANO I DIDNT MEAN TO MAKE YOU CRY."
French manager Didier Deschamps was also forced to swat away the pests as an infestation took hold at the Stade de France.
Players from both squads were forced to take avoiding action as they were swamped when they took a walk around the pitch an hour before the big kick-off.
English referee Marc Clattenburg and his team were also targeted by the flying bugs in bizarre scenes in Paris.
Tournament organisers were forced to send staff out with brushes and hoovers in an attempt to clear them away from the pitch, dug-out and advertising hoardings.
Even the goalposts and netting came under attack to the amusement of supports packed into the ground.
The floodlights in the Stade de France were left on all last night to help create an atmosphere in Paris - but the brightness may have contributed to attracting the pests to the stadium.
