Crystal Palace Supporters Trust spokesman Chris Waters believes the new “heavy-handed” rules on banners at Selhurst Park have blown the issue way out of proportion.

The new rules, which come into immediate effect, have been put in place following a dispute between stewards and fans when supporters tried to unveil a banner during the Arsenal game last Sunday.

Waters reckons it would have been fine except that the banner would have covered a Sky Sports camera.

He said: “There has clearly been some sort of miscommunication at the club.

“I know that they need to clarify the health and safety rules for fans, however they have dealt with it in a very heavy handed way.”

He added: “The way the statement is worded is very harsh. All it has done is stoked up an issue which did not need to be stoked up.

“They could have just spoken to the people involved in the incident rather than releasing a statement to all supporters.”