A player kicks PIG'S HEAD thrown onto the pitch during Corinthians vs Palmeiras

The Sao Paulo derby between Corinthians and Palmeiras was remarkably interrupted by a pig's head being thrown onto the pitch on Monday night.

The incident took place during the first half when Palmeiras lined up to take a corner, only for Corinthians forward Yuri Alberto to notice the pig's head on the touchline.

A clearly disgusted Alberto ran over to kick the head out of play, before a woman took it away to place it behind an advertising hoarding.

South American correspondent Tim Vickery gave his take on the extraordinary moment as he wrote on X: 'A new one on me - the big traditional Sao Paulo derby, Corinthians v Palmeiras and someone has thrown a pig's head on the the field (the symbol of Palmeiras is a pig)'.

Palmeiras were given the nickname 'pigs' by Corinthians fans in 1976 when Corinthians President Wadih Helu called his opposite number a pig after he refused to suspend a game between the two clubs following the death of two Corinthians players.

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT BELOW

Palmeiras fans responded by adopting the pig as their mascot in 1986.

ESPN Brazil reported that two fans were arrested but were released due to a lack of evidence. An investigation remains ongoing as to how the pig's head got into the stadium.

Corinthians went on to win the match 2-0, and Alberto revealed afterwards that he almost injured himself by kicking the pig's head.

'I almost broke my foot. I thought it was something else, a cushion, but it was a pig’s head, I almost hurt myself,' he told Globo Esporte.

The shocking incident evoked memories of Luis Figo being targeted by a pig's head during El Clasico in November 2002.

Figo had left Barcelona to join Real Madrid two years earlier in a move that left fans of the Catalan club furious.

The Portuguese star was jeered throughout the 2002 clash, and had a pig's head thrown at him when he went to take a corner.

The match was subsequently suspended before resuming 16 minutes later.