Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has been banned from driving for six months after exceeding a 20 mph (32 km/h) speed limit in London.
The 51-year-old Austrian was caught by a speed camera driving his BMW at 29 mph along Old Kent Road in Bermondsey, south London, in July last year. Court records showed that Glasner already had previous driving offences on his record, which meant he faced an automatic disqualification under UK traffic laws.
Glasner wrote to Willesden Magistrates’ Court in northwest London to formally plead guilty to the offence. In his written submission, he acknowledged the violation and accepted responsibility for his actions.
“I fully accept responsibility for my actions and understand the seriousness of this matter,” he wrote.
“I have taken steps to ensure it will not happen again. Due to the nature of my role, I will ensure I take the necessary steps to address the issue.”
The Crystal Palace manager also included a handwritten note assuring the court that he would not repeat the offence, choosing not to challenge the expected disqualification.
A magistrate, sitting in private, imposed the six-month driving ban on Tuesday of last week. Glasner was also ordered to pay a £660 ($881) fine, £130 in court costs, and a £264 victim surcharge.
The news comes during a turbulent period for the Austrian coach. In May, Glasner guided Crystal Palace to FA Cup success in his first full season in charge, securing the club’s first major trophy.
However, Palace’s campaign this year has been less successful. The south London side suffered a shock FA Cup third-round exit to non-league Macclesfield in January.
Shortly afterwards, Glasner announced that he would leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the current season. His decision appeared to reflect frustration with the club’s transfer policy, which saw several key players depart, while those remaining at Selhurst Park were, in his words, “abandoned completely” by the club’s hierarchy.
Crystal Palace now face a crucial Premier League clash against London rivals Tottenham on Thursday. Spurs sit just one point above the relegation zone, while Palace are also still battling to secure their top-flight status.
Glasner initially submitted his written guilty plea on 27 January and later confirmed in a second letter, dated 16 February, that he accepted the driving ban without requesting a public court hearing.
Details of the case only became public this week after Britain’s Press Association news agency gained access to the relevant court documents.
