adminOliver Glasner’s response goes viral after hearing Eddie Howe said referee was on Palace side for awarding late penalty
Glasner Fires Back at Howe’s Referee Bias Claims After Palace’s Late Penalty Win
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has strongly dismissed accusations from Newcastle United counterpart Eddie Howe that the officiating favored the hosts during Sunday’s Premier League clash at Selhurst Park, where Jean-Philippe Mateta’s stoppage-time penalty handed the Eagles a dramatic 2-1 victory.
Newcastle appeared to have snatched a surprise lead just before halftime, when William Osula capitalized on a deflection off Maxence Lacroix to finish from Lewis Miley’s pass in the 43rd minute.
Palace, having prioritized their midweek Conference League quarter-final against Fiorentina, started slowly but gradually found their footing. Mateta, back in the starting XI, headed home an equalizer in the 80th minute before the match turned on its head in the 91st.
Referee Andy Madley awarded a penalty after Sven Botman was judged to have pulled Jefferson Lerma’s shirt during a long throw-in from Chris Richards.
Mateta stepped up in the 94th minute, calmly slotting low into the corner past Martin Dúbravka. The late winner deepened Newcastle’s frustrations, further damaging their European ambitions on an afternoon many expected them to control.
After the match, Howe voiced his displeasure over both the timing and the decision itself, reportedly suggesting that the officials appeared “on Palace’s side” during a contest that saw five minutes of added time. Glasner was quick to respond.
“I have a lot of respect for Eddie—he’s an excellent manager, and his teams always play with great intensity,” Glasner said. “But that was a clear foul.
Botman pulled the shirt. You can see it in real time and on replay. Referees have a tough job, and decisions go both ways across a season. We earned those late moments through our persistence and second-half pressure.”
Glasner also highlighted his team’s resilience, noting that Mateta’s brace—his first league goals since New Year’s Day—came at a crucial time ahead of their European return leg.
The result leaves Palace comfortably in mid-table, while Newcastle stay five points adrift of the European spots with few games remaining.
The Austrian coach added: “Neither side deserved to lose today. But football comes down to key moments, and we took ours. No bias—just a penalty.”
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