This is the adorable moment a young Hearts fan is surprised with mascot duties during an away game, walking onto the pitch with the players in Denmark.
During the match against FC Copenhagen on December 12, the Danish side left a spot open for a travelling fan to walk out onto the pitch with their players.
Searching the crowd before the match the Danish team settled on 8-year-old Leo Barbirou, who was sitting in the stands after travelling with family from Edinburgh. Footage shows a member of staff from the Danish side approaching Leo and asking if he wants to walk onto the field – to which the youngster eagerly agrees.
The staff member says: “We’re so happy that every one of you travelled to Copenhagen. If you want, we kept one spot for a mascot for the players’ entrance. We want one of your travelling fans to be the one going hand-in-hand with your players before the game.
“Are you up for the task? Do you want to go?”
Leo eagerly nods and hops up from his seat, being led out of the stands and into a room where he’s handed a mascot’s kit. Leo then takes centre stage, being the mascot at the front of the line alongside Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland.
The youngster takes Shankland’s hand before walking out onto the pitch with the Gorgie side to loud applause from the fans. Hearts shared the clip to social media last night (THUR), saying: “A special surprise for 8-year-old Leo Barbirou.
“FC Copenhagen welcomed us tonight with a special surprise, reserving a spot for travelling fan Leo as a player mascot.”
The post has since received over 13,700 likes and more than 150 comments from fans applauding the team’s gesture. One user said: “Made that kid’s year. Fantastic Copenhagen.”
Another wrote: “This is the best thing I’ve seen involving that match, absolutely class from Copenhagen.” A third commented: “Amazing touch from Copenhagen. Created a memory to last a lifetime for him. Amazing.”
Another added: “We live close to the stadium and before the match there was a friendly atmosphere with Scottish and Danish fans mingling in the streets. Football as it should be. Hearts, you will be welcome here any day. A fifth replied: “Marvellous gesture, absolutely fantastic experience for that youngster. Well done Copenhagen.”
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