Crystal Palace Manager Oliver Glasner Handed Six-Month Driving Ban for Speeding Violation
Crystal Palace football manager Oliver Glasner has been disqualified from driving for six months after being caught speeding in a 20mph zone on the Old Kent Road in Bermondsey, South London. The 51-year-old Austrian, who guided Palace to FA Cup glory last season, was driving his BMW at 29mph in the restricted area near a Tesco store last July.
Automatic Ban Triggered by Previous Offences
Glasner initially attempted to settle the matter by paying a fine, but due to existing penalty points on his driving record, the additional points would have pushed him over the legal threshold for an automatic ban. The Metropolitan Police prosecution team revealed that the manager's licence already carried sufficient points to trigger disqualification once the new offence was added.
"Payment was made and licence details provided for electronic endorsement, however, the additional penalty points would have resulted in the total current points on the licence being 12 or more," explained case worker Emily Delroy in a court statement.
Handwritten Apology and Court Proceedings
Glasner chose not to contest the disqualification and instead submitted a handwritten letter to Willesden Magistrates' Court pleading guilty and vowing to never break traffic laws again. The manager wrote: "I fully accept responsibility for my actions and understand the seriousness of this matter. I have taken steps to ensure it will not happen again."
The case was handled through the Single Justice Procedure in a private hearing last week, where magistrates imposed the six-month driving ban along with financial penalties totaling £1,054:
- £660 fine for the speeding offence
- £130 in court costs
- £264 victim surcharge
Timing of Offence and Football Context
The speeding incident occurred at approximately 7:30am on July 15 last year as Glasner drove through traffic lights opposite the Tesco store on Old Kent Road. This came just two months after his triumphant FA Cup victory with Crystal Palace and three days after the club learned their European qualification had been downgraded from the Europa League to the Europa Conference League.
Glasner's driving ban comes as his team prepares for a crucial Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur this Thursday, with Palace currently engaged in the relegation battle. The manager acknowledged in his court submission that "due to the nature of my role, I will ensure I take the steps to address the issue."
Broader Enforcement Context
The Crystal Palace manager was among 1,089 motorists prosecuted last week for violating 20mph speed limits across London. Magistrates handed out more than £157,000 in fines and issued 27 driving bans in total during that period, highlighting increased enforcement of traffic regulations in the capital.
Court documents accessed this week reveal that Glasner formally pleaded guilty to the offence on January 27 and confirmed his acceptance of the driving ban in a follow-up letter to the court on February 16. The Metropolitan Police refunded his initial fine payment after determining that the case required prosecution rather than a fixed penalty resolution.
