Crystal Palace fans take a swipe at UEFA as Larnaca spring surprise on Oliver Glasner

CRYSTAL PALACE 0-1 AEK LARNACA: Home supporters’ eye-catching banner sends clear message to UEFA, but Cypriot underdogs stun Oliver Glasner’s side at Selhurst Park

Crystal Palace fans evoked the fighting spirit of World War Two in a new attack on UEFA before their Conference League home debut. But Austrian Oliver Glasner’s side then went down to a lame defeat to AEK Larnaca – the club fifth in the Cypriot First Division.

After the pre-match noise, it was an anti-climactic night at Selhurst Park and there were boos at full-time. And the latest protest by the Holmesdale Fanatics – the antidote to the prawn sandwich brigade in English football – was the most memorable part of the night along with the Cypriot post-match celebrations.

The FA Cup holders lost an appeal against their demotion from the Europa League in August over multi-ownership rules because previous co-owner John Textor also held shares in Lyon last season.

The Palace fans group visited UEFA headquarters in Nyon in July with a suitcase full of fake bank notes. And at the Community Shield at Wembley just before the CAS verdict, they unfurled a banner reading: “UEFA Mafia”.

And before their first home game of the group stage, the ultras unfurled a new sign reading: “We are the ones who will win your little game” accompanied by a tifo of arrows pointing towards Leipzig – the venue for this season’s UEFA Conference League final.

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The banner is a play on words of the theme song for Dad’s Army, a sitcom about the Home Guard during the Second World War which ran for 80 episodes between 1968 and 1977. The song – Who Do You Think You Are Kidding Mr. Hitler? – included the words: “We are the boys who will stop your little game. We are the boys who will make you think again. ‘Cause who do you think you are kidding Mister Hitler If you think old England’s done?”

The Holmesdale Fanatics have a history of controversial banners. In October 2021 before the Premier League game with Newcastle, they attacked both the Premier League and Saudi Arabia after the Public Investment Fund bought the Tyneside club.

And in January 2023, they presciently criticised then co-owner John Textor after his purchase of Lyon with the banner: “Multi-club ownership. Stock market gambling. Textor, we don’t trust you”.

Palace fans funded memorable hand-painted tifos for their two FA Cup ties at Wembley last season. For the final against Manchester City, two young supporters celebrating a Darren Ambrose winner at Old Trafford in 2011 with their late father and the message: “Wembley will shake and it will be beautiful”.

The chanting by Palace fans against UEFA and Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis was less pretty but they had little else to get excited about.

Bosnian striker Riad Bajic netted the 51st-minute winner with a shot into the top corner after teenage French defender Jaydee Canvot gave away possession on only his second Palace appearance.

Weekend hat-trick hero Jean-Philippe Mateta hit the bar, missed a header and had a close-range shot superbly saved by AEK keeper Zlatan Alomerovic. And Sub Eddie Nketiah fluffed a clear chance in the six-yard box.

After a run of 19 games unbeaten, Palace have now lost two in the last three before visiting Arsenal on Sunday.

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