If you watch the English Premier League, you're probably familiar with Crystal Palace. This is their third season back in England's top division, and their sixth season of using a bald eagle by the name of Kayla as a mascot to help live up to the team's "Eagles" nickname. Kayla flies across the field at Selhurst Park as part of pre-match and halftime displays, and she's widely loved by the Crystal Palace fan base.
Fan arrested for trying to punch the Crystal Palace eagle
No, really.
Alex Broadway/Getty Images
Unfortunately, in September an opposing fan apparently took a swing at poor Kayla. During a home match against second-division Charlton Athletic in a League Cup match on September 23rd, frustrations among Charlton fans boiled over after their team gave up a second penalty in the match and fighting broke out. It seems that Kayla and her handler were in the area, and an unidentified 34-year-old man took a swing at the eagle, apparently thinking that fighting an eagle -- you know, with her super-sharp talons and beak -- was a good idea.
The man, who thankfully missed his punch, was arrested on suspicion of attempted assault as part of a larger investigation into the the “violent disorder” during and after the match. He was one of six people arrested. Kayla, fortunately, is fine.
