If someone told you that football matches in Russia were started with a bear ceremonially handing the match ball to the referee, you would probably accuse them of lazy stereotyping.

Welp, you'd be wrong because that is what happened in the Russian 3rd division match between Mashuk-KMV and FC Angusht Nazran over the weekend, when man led a muzzled brown bear to the edge of the pitch, where the animal clapped to the supporters and was also tasked with handing the match ball to the referee.