Selhurst Park was the centre of fan behaviour last week after two coin throwing incidents towards the opposition players after goals were scored in-front of the Holmesdale on Wednesday against Newcastle and Saturday against Liverpool in the FA Cup.
The coins which were thrown from the same section in the Holmesdale last week with the incidents being closer to the goal than the Holmesdale Fanatics who are placed in the corner of the stand closer to the Arthur Wait. New security measures have been introduced at Selhurst Park including new CCTV cameras with higher resolution both above and behind the stands, this is not the only measure to be introduced as a number of stewards will now wear body cameras.
Speaking to the media ahead of the game on Saturday at Selhurst Park, Eagles manager Alan Pardew had his say on the recent events by saying it needs to be cut down and the punishments stated in a club statement earlier on in the week are justified due to the idiocy of the actions taken by a couple of “citizens.”
“It’s a big concern for the football club as you don’t want it but for me the manager, I just want to try and prepare the team so it’s not really high on my agenda,” he said.
“I hope it stops because it’s something we want to take out of the game. We have had two incidents and we need to stamp it down; which is what the officials at this football club will try to do.
“I think the first time a coin is thrown it is maybe a heat of the moment, stupid thing to do. To do it twice is stupid and we can’t accept that at any level. The incident with Chelsea in Paris gives you the strength in social media, so if any fans are standing next to someone then film them, take a picture of them. We’ll try and do our best to find them.”
After the recent events at Crystal Palace, Alan Pardew has said that the club will try to protect 99% of the fans that have helped built the reputation of the fans as the best in the country. He also praised the Holmesdale Fanatics, describing their support as a brilliant noise avenue for the atmosphere at Selhurst Park.
“It’s difficult. We represent society at all different levels and we get all types of people from society here. We can’t control their behaviour to a degree, all we can do is put on the best conditions, the best environment we can to make it as child friendly as we can. That’s what we have done. We have the best atmosphere in the country and we don’t want to lose that by silly little incidents like the ones that have happened.
“It happens from time to time, you’re going to get incidents that damage the club. Our fans have to realise that and 99% of our fans know that is damaging us and damaging the brilliant reputation that we have built. Them few citizens are letting us down and we need to reel them in – point them out to us and we will address it the best we can.
“The focus is very much at this ground on just about getting our fans in the best place. The club has done a great job at that, that little corner in the Holmesdale is a brilliant noise avenue for us so we mustn’t damage it in any way – we must protect it and it comes from protecting itself and us as a club protecting it too and that’s what we’re going to try and do.”
