An Aston Villa goalkeeper became the pantomime villain on Tuesday night as he denied a group of kids their dream of taking a penalty at Selhurst Park.
Robin Olsen was due to replace the injured Emiliano Martinez in the second half and decided to soldier on through his warm-up - despite the home fans' vehement protests.
As it happened, his stubbornness didn't pay off as he conceded three after the break in a 4-1 Crystal Palace rout which saw Villa drop to 10th.
It is common for children to have half-time challenges and highly unusual for a player to deny them the opportunity. However, with European qualification on the line, it is perhaps understandable why Olsen had tunnel vision.
The host of the half-time extravaganza approached Olsen and entered his six-yard box to try and persuade him, but the Swede wasn't having any of it.
'Sorry, we're using the goal,' began the host. 'I feel like I'm at school. I'm really sorry, this has never happeend before. Sorry, we need the goal.' Olsen simply carried on with his routine.
The host continued: 'No? Can I play with the goal? We're using the goal. I'm relly sorry. This is the first time it has ever happened. Shall we go down the Holmesdale? Palace fans, I genuinely don't know what to say.
'Right kids, let's leg it down the other end because Villa clearly don't wanna play.'
Not even the shouts of 'w****r' from the stands were of any persuasion.
And so the custodian continued catching practice from crosses, not even facing shots, while the crestfallen kids stood being consoled by the club's mascot, Pete the Eagle.
One photograph even captures the moment where Pete lingers behind Olsen and gives him an irritated stare in front of the Whitehorse Lane end.
Meanwhile, Villa fans sang 'we shall not be moved'.
Fans on social media were shocked with what they saw.
'Disgusting from Robin Olsen, refused to let the Aston Villa and Crystal Palace kids do the half-time challenge. What a terrible attitude and awful way to treat your own fans' one wrote on X.
'Didn’t realise a half-time kids penalty shootout would cause so much drama but thank you Robin Olsen for being a d*** and then conceding 3 goals,' one commented.
'There was only one winner tonight,' tweeted Palace, with a photo of Pete the Eagle and Olsen.
Another added: 'He's an embarrassment - deprived your fans down your end.'
Some defended Olsen, though, with one writing: 'If this was Jamie Vardy people would say it was class.'
Another said: 'Go to the other goal then, he gets paid for this,' and: 'Seems more reasonable for the home keeper to step aside for their fans' charity.'
The challenge was delayed but still took place, just in front of the Holmesdale Road Stand at the other end of the ground after the kids moved across.
Palace recorded their fifth win in seven Premier League games to climb to 12th above Tottenham.
Ismaila Sarr was the hero of the match with two goals, one in either half, while Jean-Philippe Mateta chipped in with his 12th of the league season and Eddie Nketiah bagged his first league goal for the club.
Villa were well in the game after Morgan Rogers equalised in the 52nd minute.
The visitors were also bemoaning their hard luck after VAR ruled out two goals, one from Jacob Ramsey and another from Rogers.
