EXPLOSIVE! Oliver Glasner DROPS BOMBSHELL on Booing Fans – ‘I Didn’t Hear Anything, Maybe They Were BOOING the Referee!’

Oliver Glasner admitted he was unsure why some Crystal Palace supporters could be heard booing after the goalless draw with AEK Larnaca in the first leg of their Europa Conference League last 16 tie at Selhurst Park.

Jean-Philippe Mateta returned to the squad for the first time since his proposed move to AC Milan fell through in January, after a knee problem caused him to fail his medical. The episode had not gone down well with sections of the fanbase, and when the French striker came on as a late substitute, the reaction from the crowd was mixed, though largely leaning toward a warm welcome.

Palace had their opportunities to break the deadlock against the same side that had beaten them 1-0 at Selhurst Park in the league phase, but failed to convert their dominance into goals. Goalkeeper Zlatan Alomerovic made a number of important saves to preserve Larnaca’s clean sheet, and Palace now face a must-win second leg in Cyprus next week.

Glasner said he had not been able to hear the booing clearly and offered a few possible explanations, suggesting it may have been directed at the referee rather than at Mateta or the result. He noted that the officiating style in European competition differs significantly from what Palace supporters are used to in the Premier League, with almost every physical contact being penalised, and felt the crowd may have grown frustrated with that.

He was equally measured on the result itself, insisting he was not frustrated and framing it as a matter of failing to take the chances that were created. He acknowledged that Larnaca are an experienced side who read the game well and are difficult to break down, but said Palace had been dominant enough and simply lacked the clinical edge to show for it.