People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has sent a formal letter to Crystal Palace’s chief executive, Sharon Lacey, demanding that the Premier League club retire its live bald eagle mascot, Phoenix, immediately. The organisation argues that a “bright stadium filled with boisterous fans is no place for animals” and that the use of a live bird in pre‑match displays endangers both the animal and spectators.
Since 2010, the London club, known as the Eagles, has employed a live eagle on matchdays. Kayla, the first bird, served for ten years until her death in 2020. Phoenix made her debut against West Ham in August 2024. PETA says that birds can become “frightened, disoriented and panicked” in stadium environments, putting themselves and fans at risk. The group also highlights that using animals for entertainment denies them the chance to engage with their natural instincts, leading to “frustration and stress”.
PETA has compiled records of incidents involving live mascots, including birds being injured or killed in collisions with walls, windows and match balls, and a falcon embedding its talons in a spectator’s scalp after landing on his head. In 2017, a Charlton Athletic fan was found guilty of attempting to punch Kayla the eagle at a League Cup fixture two years earlier. “Many professional sports teams use only willing humans as mascots, and the club already has Pete the Eagle to excite the crowd,” said Dr Carys Bennett, Peta’s senior corporate projects manager. “Bald eagles are widely recognised as symbols of freedom. They deserve better than to be used as an entertainment prop to amuse the Eagles’ fans.”
BBC Sport has reached out to Crystal Palace for comment on the appeal.
