At Selhurst Park on Tuesday night, controversy erupted during a kids’ half-time penalty shootout.
Aston Villa’s Robin Olsen made headlines when he blocked the children’s chance to take a penalty. Fans and young players alike felt the sting of his stubborn decision.
Robin Olsen stepped in for the injured Emiliano Martinez and continued his warm-up despite the home crowd’s protests. He stayed focused on the match, ignoring pleas from those who wanted him to step aside.
Half-time challenges usually let children shine on the pitch. It is rare for a professional to deny such a fun opportunity. Yet Olsen maintained a tunnel vision, driven by European qualification pressures.
The host marched into the six-yard box and pleaded, “Sorry, we’re using the goal. I feel like I’m at school. This has never happened before.” Olsen ignored the appeal and stuck to his routine, leaving no room for compromise.
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Palace fans and youngsters grew visibly frustrated. The host repeated his plea, but Olsen refused to budge. Shouts from the stands could not change his mind, and even Pete the Eagle showed his irritation.
Hes an embarrassment- deprived your fans down your end pic.twitter.com/P08Z4uKTsF
— PA Ulysees (@paulwham500) February 25, 2025
Crystal Palace dominated the second half after Olsen’s controversial stance. The keeper conceded three goals in a 4-1 rout that saw Villa drop to 10th place. The decision undoubtedly affected the atmosphere on the pitch.
Social media exploded with heated comments. One fan branded Olsen “disgusting” for his actions, while others compared him to Jamie Vardy. Some argued he should have stepped aside for charity, yet his determination remained unshaken.
The half-time challenge eventually moved to the opposite end of the pitch. Crystal Palace celebrated their fifth win in seven Premier League games to climb to 12th place. Ismaila Sarr shined with two goals, Jean-Philippe Mateta netted his 12th goal of the season, and Eddie Nketiah scored his first league goal. Morgan Rogers equalised for Villa, and VAR ruled out goals from Jacob Ramsey and Rogers.
