Albion - Palace rivalry needs to be defused, says senior Sussex cop

Chief Inspector Simon Nelson of Sussex Police has called on the two clubs and their supporters’ clubs to work together to control the simmering rivalry.

The call comes as the two rivals prepare to meet in the return league fixture in London on January 31.

CI Nelson, who was match commander for Palace’s visit to the Amex in September, hailed the policing for that game as a success.

He said: “I am used to seeing rivalry between different supporter groups but the level of hatred between some groups of supporters was really concerning.

“We would like to reduce this level of rivalry bordering on hatred before people who usually would be law abiding could get into serious trouble.

“There is a very small minority who have no interest in football and who are only interested in organised violence. We need to do something about that ideally before the next match.”

Liz Costa, vice chair of Albion supporters’ club, said she feared that the club’s move to a new stadium had seen a return of some supporters who went to the Goldstone in the 1980s.

She said this had had a negative impact on the atmosphere at the ground this season against high-profile teams such as Palace and Leeds and that some fans would not travel to the return match at Selhurst Park because they were worried about being caught up in any trouble.

She added: “I wish there was a solution to this but I don’t think there is, this small minority are not the sort of people you can reason or interact with.”

Albion's head of operations Richard Hebberd said the vast majority of Albion and Crystal Palace fans enjoy a “healthy, non-violent rivalry” and had come together to raise thousands of pounds for the Robert Eaton Memorial Fund.

He added: “However, sadly, there are a minority who seek to take things too far - and that is unacceptable.

“Together with Sussex Police we will continue to work to eliminate this minority.”