Mateta DROPPED and BANNED from Palace Training After Shocking Bust-Up with New Signing Strand Larsen
Selhurst Park is in meltdown this morning after sources confirmed to us that star forward Jean-Philippe Mateta has been sensationally suspended from first-team training following a violent dressing-room altercation with deadline-day signing Jørgen Strand Larsen.
According to a well-placed club insider, tensions boiled over during a routine possession drill. The 6ft 4in Norwegian striker, Larsen, arrived from Wolves in a dramatic £25m deadline-day switch, and it appears the new competition for places has lit a fuse under the usually composed Frenchman.
“The atmosphere was toxic,” our source revealed. “Larsen came in hard on a tackle, maybe a bit over-enthusiastic to prove himself. Mateta took exception and shoved him. It flared up instantly. Within seconds, punches were thrown. It took four coaching staff to peel them apart.”
But the real damage was done in the dressing room afterwards. Witnesses claim Mateta, who has been Palace’s talisman since the backend of the 2023/24 season, confronted Larsen again. What started as a shouting match allegedly ended with Mateta throwing a punch that connected with the new signing, leaving Larsen with a visible mark on his cheek.
Glasner, renowned for his strict disciplinary code, acted with lightning speed. The Austrian manager, who has built his squad on a philosophy of “team over talent,” immediately sent Mateta home and has now issued a formal club statement confirming the forward will train in isolation with the under-21s until further notice.
“Jean-Philippe has breached the internal code of conduct,” Glasner said in a hastily arranged press conference this morning. “There is a line. It was crossed. For now, he will not train with the first-team squad. We are a family, and in families, you resolve issues with respect, not with your fists.”
The timing could not be worse for the Eagles. With a crucial London derby against West Ham looming on Saturday, Palace are now staring down the barrel of a striking crisis. Mateta, who bagged 16 league goals last season, is the undisputed starter. Larsen, signed for his aerial prowess and hold-up play, was expected to be slowly integrated, perhaps featuring from the bench.
Now, it looks like Larsen might be thrown straight into the deep end. The Norwegian international touched down in London just 48 hours ago, and instead of slowly learning the system, he may now lead the line at the London Stadium.
The fanbase is already deeply divided. On X, formerly Twitter, the hashtag #MatetaIn was trending amongst Palace fans in South London this morning, while others are backing Glasner’s hardline stance.
“You can’t let a player think he’s bigger than the club. Mateta needs to apologise,” wrote one season ticket holder.
“Glasner has lost the plot. Larsen probably deserved it. Mateta is our main man,” fired back another.
What is clear is that the harmony Glasner has so carefully cultivated at Selhurst Park has been shattered. Mateta, the hero of so many nights in SE25, is now training with the kids, watching on as the man he clashed with takes his reps.
The ball is now in Mateta’s court. A formal apology to Larsen and the squad is expected to be the first step in any reconciliation, but for a player of his pride, that may be a bitter pill to swallow.
For the first time in two years, Jean-Philippe Mateta’s future at Crystal Palace looks genuinely uncertain. And we are only in September.
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