Crystal Palace launch probe into Tory councillor rant claims

CRYSTAL Palace Football Club is investigating claims a Croydon councillor swore at supporters and ripped down their banner in a pitch-side rage.

Fans on the official Crystal Palace internet forum were this week calling for Tony Pearson to be sacked as a steward following the match against Birmingham City on December 19.

The Tory councillor is said to have got into a spat with supporters at the Holmesdale Road end after they displayed a message in support of club chairman Steve Parish.

Mr Pearson strongly denies any wrongdoing and insists he did not use bad language. The banner which sparked the drama was unveiled after Palace scored their late winner.

Season ticket holder Ian Macquire, 35, said: "As soon as it went up, Tony came running in and barged me out the way because the banner was right behind me."

Mr Macquire alleges Mr Pearson swore in the fans' faces before grabbing and ripping the banner.

"The guys holding the banner were not happy," he added. "As far as I'm concerned they didn't know they weren't allowed it. They should have been asked politely to take it down."

Fans claim the banner stated: "Dan Johnson – peddling misinformation for a living".

Mr Johnson is the Premier League's director of communications and, on his Twitter account, had accused Mr Parish of "peddling misinformation".

The pair are in disagreement over changes to youth transfer costs in football, which could mean Palace receiving lower fees for players under the age of 17.

Mr Pearson explained last Monday's game was being screened live on Sky and naming an individual on a banner "reflects badly on a club if it's allowed to go on".

He insisted supporters had been pre-warned about displaying it.

Mr Pearson said: "We signalled from pitch-side that the banner had to come down – it was ignored. We signalled again – again it was ignored. Then the stewards went in and removed it. I can assure you I didn't swear – that's rubbish."

After the game, Mr Pearson was involved in a confrontation with a fan as he tried to stop him filming a discussion with a steward.

Mr Pearson said somebody threatened him and he was shoved from behind. He explained: "Filming inside the stadium is against ground regulations. Nobody signs up to be filmed while they're speaking to a spectator."

Palace fan Mr Pearson has been a steward for 20 years and said he objects to some of the abusive comments that have been placed on the internet about him, with his wife being named as well.

A spokesman for Crystal Palace Football Club said: "We are aware of the matter and it is being looked into by our stadium manager."