Wales v Belgium: ‘Freak of nature’ rat invades pitch in World Cup qualifier

Nash explained the location of the stadium on the outskirts of the Welsh capital explains where the rodent likely came from.

“The stadium is close to allotments and railway sidings and we know rats can be problematic,” he said.

“The railway bankings can be infested with rats. We know they are in the area and we do have the odd sighting of them.

“But we work closely with our pest control partners and do everything we can to keep them away.”

Rat bait stations are in operation at the stadium and the club say stringent cleaning policies are followed.

“We pick up litter and food like half-eaten burgers straight after games. Everything is put away,” added Nash, who also works as a security manager for the Football Association of Wales (FAW) and Uefa.

“They say you are never too far from a rat, especially in cities, and this one managed to get in.

“People have seen a rat on the pitch as quite funny, but it does have serious undertones.

“If I was the ball boy or Brennan Johnson I would have run a mile.”