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The Holmesdale Fanatics are at odds with Crystal Palace over the current matchday experience.
Selhurst Park has unfortunately lost a bit of soul in recent times, as cheesy light shows, fire displays and a loud song list chosen by the club drowns out supporters trying to create an organic atmosphere before games.
The popular Mike Rankine was also recently dismissed as the stadium announcer after 17 years in the role, causing Crystal Palace fans to lose another key component of the matchday experience.
Regarding the aforementioned point about Crystal Palace drowning out fans, the Holmesdale Fanatics recently saw their request to turn down the music for Conference League matches denied by the club due to “UEFA regulations”.
However, Manchester City have since proven that these regulations may not even exist.
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty ImagesManchester City turned music off before Real Madrid defeat, so why not Crystal Palace?
3-0 down to Real Madrid on aggregate and in need of an intimidating atmosphere, Manchester City opted to turn the pre-match music off entirely when the Spanish giants arrived at the Etihad Stadium earlier in March, let alone just turning it down.
That was also reported by BBC Sport at the time.
The Champions League is a UEFA competition which follows the same rulebook as the Conference League, so Manchester City have just effectively delivered proof that no such UEFA regulation regarding music exists.
For those yet to see the full statement from the Holmesdale Fanatics, it can be read below.
“Ahead of the Zrinjski game, we asked the club to turn the music down pre-match so that Selhurst could support the team during the warm-up. This request was refused and we were told it wouldn’t be possible due to ‘UEFA regulations’.
“This week, we followed up to ask if the music could be turned down ahead of the Leeds game. We, like lots of others, want to be able to build the famous atmosphere that the club spends so much time talking about without being drowned out by ear-splitting music. Sharon Lacey, CEO, refused this request again, telling us the club has a “production plan in place for matches so this will not be possible.”
“It is clear now that the club is determined to keep trying to force an American style ‘experience’ on us.
“We would encourage anyone who wants to urge the club to rethink to email [email protected].
“It’s time the club start listening to Palace fans who do not want a sanitised Selhurst.”
It is a shame to see fans at odds with the club during the first European campaign in the history of Crystal Palace – who could bank £26m thanks to Mohamed Salah.
This is a time where the club should be doing all they can to enhance the fantastic atmosphere our fans create, not hinder it.