MONTEVIDEO – The Uruguayan air force is analyzing a photograph in which can be seen a black spot of unknown origin in the sky above Montevideo taken on the day of the festivities celebrating the return of the national soccer team from the World Cup tournament in South Africa, the daily El Pais reported Wednesday.

The air force’s UFO panel, known as Cridovni, received the image on Tuesday from a private citizen, the newspaper said.

In the photo, which was reproduced by El Pais, a black spot is visible in the sky above the huge crowd that accompanied the bus carrying the soccer team’s players as they toured the capital and were warmly and gratefully greeted by their countrymen after having secured the fourth place spot in the World Cup competition.

Cridovni chief Col. Ariel Sanchez told El Pais that on that day no anomalies were noted in the airspace over Montevideo, which was “well-monitored,” since air force aircraft were performing acrobatic maneuvers above the city as part of the celebration.

However, Sanchez said that a scientific investigation will be conducted to determine the origin of the spot in the photograph.

“We never rule out the extraterrestrial hypothesis, but we also know that they can be physical particles or light displays,” said the colonel.

The daily added that the air force studies an average of four photos a month showing alleged unknown objects in the sky. EFE