Watford’s matchday mascot has accused Crystal Palace of ‘compromising’ his safety.
Gareth Evans, who has been Harry the Hornet since 2008, was shown without his mask on the big screen at Selhurst Park before Saturday’s game.
Palace TV
The clip was shown to supporters inside Selhurst Park before kick-off on Saturday
There has been a long-running feud between Harry the Hornet and Crystal Palace since 2016 when the former provoked Wilfried Zaha by diving on to the Vicarage Road pitch.
Ahead of their meeting in August 2018, Eagles boss Roy Hodgson called the mascot’s actions ‘disgraceful’.
And before Saturday’s clash, which Palace won 1-0 thanks to Jordan Ayew’s goal, the identify of Harry the Hornet was aired on the big screen.
And Evans took issue with the clip.
Palace TV
There has been tension between Harry the Hornet and Crystal Palace since 2016
He tweeted: “Back home, no thanks to the best efforts of a professional football club compromising my safety – even mates whom are supporters of that club said th is and are embarrassed.
“Onto the next game, You Horns.”
Palace star Zaha has been booked for diving twice against Watford in the past.
He also won the decisive penalty, which Kevin Phillips scored, as Palace beat Watford in the 2013 Championship play-off final at Wembley.
Speaking about the incident in which Harry the Hornet mocked Zaha, he told Football365: “Zaha is a fantastic footballer, no doubt about it.
Getty
Gareth Evans has been Harry the Hornet since 2008
“He’s gone past me as he’s walking down the tunnel, the fans are calling him a diver, so I’ve just dived on the ground. Nothing more, nothing less.
“I’ve walked away, and got a reaction from the Palace fans, so I did it again – why wouldn’t I?
“I had no idea what was going to play out. It was my friend’s birthday that night so I went out, I was watching Match of the Day in the pub, and they zoomed in on Harry.
“I was laughing, Alan Shearer was laughing, Ian Wright was laughing – they were all laughing.”
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