Australian football match held up for 32 minutes as rampaging kangaroo repeatedly invades pitch

Sunday’s encounter between the Capital Football Club and Belconnen United had to be temporarily stopped when a six-foot kangaroo charged onto the pitch

The Socceroos may need a generous swing in their favour to maintain hopes in the 2018 World Cup beyond the group stage, but back home a different kangaroo is wreaking havoc on Australian football.

A video has emerged from Canberra of a huge kangaroo invading the pitch during the women’s game between Capital Football Club and Belconnen United on Sunday afternoon during the half-time break.

Officials worked to move the marsupial on from the pitch, but when the two teams returned for the second half, the kangaroo reappeared and charged onto the field – sending the players sprinting for safety.

A kangaroo held up the game between Capital FC and Belconnen United for 32 minutes (BAR TV AND CAPITAL FOOTBAL via AP)

Capital club official Amber Harvey confirmed that efforts to scare away the kangaroo using a truck delayed the game for 32 minutes, before the second half was able to resume.

"It was just a real menace," Harvey said.

"A few people came close to it to see if they could maybe get it to move on. It stood up pretty tall. I think it was just over six feet, so they backed off pretty quickly. But I don't think anyone was alarmed too much by it," she added.

The kangaroo returned in the middle of the second half, sending players fleeing for safety (BAR TV AND CAPITAL FOOTBAL via AP)

The kangaroo proceeded to lie down in the goal mouth, with some players attempting to force it to move by kicking footballs in its direction – only for it to dodge and deflect their efforts.

"It didn't react. It just kind of lay down," Harvey said.

The kangaroo was eventually moved on by a coach in a pick-up truck (BAR TV AND CAPITAL FOOTBAL via AP)

Kangaroos are a common sight in the suburbs of Canberra, although they are more common at night as they graze in the cooler temperatures.

After being chased off the pitch by a coach in the pick-up truck, the kangaroo burst through a gap in a fence and injured itself in the process, according to reports.