Don't make a mountain out of a molehill! Shakhtar Donetsk go hunting for a mole after the pitch at their Metalist Stadium was dug up

  • Shakhtar Donetsk had a mole problem, but not the spying kind you might expect
  • The mole was found digging up areas of the pitch at Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv
  • Coincidentally, Shakhtar fans are known as 'the moles' for mining connections 

Ahead of their opening Champions League game, Shakhtar Donetsk have been on the hunt for a mole.

The Ukrainian club aren't worried that someone is stealing their tactical secrets for Wednesday's game against Hoffenheim, however. 

A real mole has been digging up the field at Metalist Stadium, leaving three large molehills by a corner flag.

Three large molehills were found near the corner flag at Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv, Ukraine

Three large molehills were found near the corner flag at Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv, Ukraine

Normally football clubs are worried about moles leaking secrets, not digging up their pitch

Normally football clubs are worried about moles leaking secrets, not digging up their pitch

Shakhtar said on Twitter that 'groundsmen quickly eliminated the damage to the pitch and caught a mole. The field is in excellent condition now.'


There was no word on the fate of the subterranean rodent.

Shakhtar's team, who play in Kharkiv because their home city of Donetsk is occupied by pro-Russian separatist groups, is commonly nicknamed 'the moles' because of the club's historic ties to the mining industry. 

The Shakhtar Donetsk groundsmen were able to catch the mole and fix the damage it caused

The Shakhtar Donetsk groundsmen were able to catch the mole and fix the damage it caused

Shakhtar Donetsk face Hoffenheim in the Champions League at home on Wednesday 19th

Shakhtar Donetsk face Hoffenheim in the Champions League at home on Wednesday 19th