PETA urges Crystal Palace to retire live eagle mascot Phoenix from Selhurst Park

PETA has formally requested that Crystal Palace retire Phoenix, their American bald eagle mascot, from all matchday duties at Selhurst Park, writing directly to club chief executive Sharon Lacey to argue that “wildlife doesn’t belong in a football stadium.”

Phoenix has been a fixture at Crystal Palace home matches since August 2024, taking part in pre-match displays and posing for photographs with supporters. The eagle was present for the club’s opening home fixture of the season against Manchester City and succeeded Kayla — another American bald eagle who died of a heart attack in 2020 aged 28 — after Palace introduced live eagle appearances to matchdays in 2010.

In its letter to Lacey, sent last month, PETA argued that “a bright stadium filled with boisterous fans is no place for animals,” warning that under such conditions “birds easily become frightened, disoriented, and panicked.” The charity added that using eagles for displays and entertainment “denies them the opportunity to engage in their natural behaviour, resulting in frustration and stress.”

PETA senior corporate projects manager Dr Carys Bennett said: “Bald eagles are revered as symbols of freedom, yet Phoenix is being used as little more than a prop to entertain football fans. Crystal Palace already has a human mascot to energise supporters, so there’s no reason to drag a wild animal into a noisy, crowded stadium. PETA is urging the club to let Phoenix spread his wings and retire him from matchday duties for good.”

The organisation says it holds records of incidents involving live bird mascots being injured or killed in collisions with walls, windows, and match balls. PETA also referenced a 2017 incident in which a Charlton Athletic supporter was found guilty of attempting to punch Kayla during a League Cup match between the two clubs.

Crystal Palace have been known as the Eagles since the 1970s. The club has not yet publicly responded to PETA’s request.