The New York Mets have apologised to fans for the behaviour of their employee playing club mascot Mr Met, after the baseball-headed character made an obscene gesture to the team's supporters.
The Wednesday night incident, caught on video that quickly went viral, showed the perpetually smiling Mr Met walking down a stadium tunnel, turning back toward some fans and pulling back all but one finger - though the mascot's cartoonish hand has only four fingers, making the gesture ambiguous.
During Thursday's rare weekday afternoon game, the mascot went unseen until the late innings.
The New York Daily News reported: "Mr Met finally waved and pointed at the Citi Field crowd during the seventh-inning stretch - with all his fingers, not just one."
Shortly after Wednesday's 7-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, the Mets team Twitter account carried an apology for "the inappropriate action" of the employee portraying Mr Met.
"We do not condone this type of behaviour," the statement said. "We are dealing with this matter internally."
Citing two team officials familiar with the situation, the Daily News reported the employee was not sacked but would no longer portray Mr Met.
DPA
