Ashley Cole and LA Galaxy team-mates injure pigeon in warm-up after appearing to deliberately aim for it
Defender Jelle Van Damme then picked up the stricken bird and took it to the locker room for treatment
ASHLEY COLE and his LA Galaxy team-mates have come under scrutiny for seriously injuring a helpless pigeon during their pre-match warm-up.
The video appears to show a group of Galaxy players knocking the ball to each other with a bird casually walking through the middle.
But former Chelsea left-back Cole gets closer to the pigeon before his team-mate hit the pitch invader with a pass aimed at the 35-year-old.
The players then put their hands on their heads as someone filming the incident shouts "they killed him!"
According to LA Galaxy insider journalist Adam Serrano, player Jelle Van Damme helped the pigeon off the pitch and into the locker room to receive treatment.
It is unaware whether the pigeon survived its horrific ordeal but it turned out to be a bad omen for the away side who lost 1-0 to rivals New York thanks to a goal from former Barcelona striker David Villa.