A football fan has been found guilty of trying to punch Kayla, Crystal Palace’s bald eagle mascot, before the kick off of Crystal Palace’s 4-1 League Cup Victory over Charlton Athletic on September 23, 2015.
Charlton Athletic supporter Daniel Boylett, 36, of Eltham, was arrested after trouble broke out at the match on 23 September 2015.
He was found guilty at Croydon Crown Court of attempted damage for the attack on Kayla. He was also found guilty of violent disorder.
Boylett was released on bail to be sentenced on 28 April.
Crystal Palace, who are nicknamed The Eagles, adopted Kayla as a mascot in 2010.
Boylett was allegedly part of a group of Charlton Athletic fans who were hoping to target the 25-year-old eagle, called Kayla.
The Charlton Athletic fan, who denied charges of criminal damage and violent disorder, allegedly threw a punch at the bald eagle as she made her customary circuit around the pitch at Selhurst Park.
Boylett claimed he simply reacted and swung his arm in self-defence because he was surprised the bird was coming towards his head.
The court heard handler Chris Belsey was walking around the Selhurst Park pitch with the bird on his forearm at the game.
Prosecutor Daniel Higgins said “three or four fans were shouting abuse” at the pair when one leaned over the barrier and “threw a punch”.
He said Mr Belsey did not know if the punch had landed and Kayla “seemed unhurt”, but “due to her delicate bone structure if she had been hit with force, her bones could easily break”.
Kayla is based at Eagle Heights sanctuary in Eynsford, Kent.
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