Animal rights organization PETA has called on London Premier League club Crystal Palace to abolish the use of the Phoenix mascot, which flies before home matches at Selhurst Park.

"A brightly lit stadium, filled with noisy fans, is no place for animals," the group wrote in a letter to the club's CEO, Sharon Lacey. Nicknamed the Eagles since 1973, Crystal Palace introduced an eagle to the stadium in 2010.

Kayla, as she was called, held the role for ten years, until her passing in 2020. Her replacement, Phoenix, made her debut in August 2024 against West Ham. According to PETA, the noise and confusion of stadiums can frighten and disorient birds, exposing them and spectators to risks.

The organization reports incidents involving animal mascots, resulting in injuries or deaths after collisions with walls, windows, and balls. In 2017, a Charlton fan was found guilty of attempting to hit Kayla during a 2015 League Cup match.

"Eagles are symbols of freedom and deserve better than being used as props to entertain fans," says Peta, who urges the club to rely exclusively on human mascots. A similar practice is also adopted in Italy by Lazio, which accompanies home matches with the Olimpia eagle, flown over the Stadio Olimpico before kick-off.

(Unioneonline)

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