Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has criticized the scheduling of the club’s upcoming matches, describing the fixture congestion as “irresponsible” and a potential threat to player welfare. The Eagles face a series of demanding fixtures across domestic and European competitions, with the possibility of playing three games in five days in mid-December.
The Fixture Crunch
Crystal Palace’s December schedule currently includes:
- Sunday, 14 December: Premier League home match vs Manchester City
- Tuesday or Wednesday, 16–17 December: EFL Cup quarter-final vs Arsenal
- Thursday, 18 December: Conference League clash vs KuPS
- Sunday, 21 December: Premier League visit to Leeds United
If the EFL Cup quarter-final is scheduled for 16 December, Palace could face three games in five days, four in eight, or five in 11, depending on UEFA competition outcomes. Glasner expressed disbelief at the situation:
“I can’t believe this won’t be fixed. It would be irresponsible for the players. We have a responsibility for them, and we have to look after their welfare.”
UEFA Expansion Creates Scheduling Challenges
The expansion of UEFA competitions over the past two seasons has added significant logistical complexity to club schedules:
- The Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League now run across 10 midweeks instead of six.
- Each competition has a standalone week for television exposure.
- Clubs participating in multiple tournaments face overlapping fixtures, particularly during December.
Crystal Palace, competing in the Conference League and the EFL Cup, is directly affected by these changes, highlighting the challenges of balancing domestic and European commitments.
Player Welfare Concerns
There is precedent for playing two matches in one midweek involving clubs like Liverpool, Manchester United, and Tottenham, but Glasner argues this approach ignores player welfare. In July, player representatives and FIFA agreed on a minimum rest period of 72 hours between matches.
“It would be irresponsible playing Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday. But there is a solution because the week after, on the 21st, we play Leeds and then the 28th,” Glasner explained.
Glasner has called for better coordination between UEFA, the Premier League, and the FA to prevent such situations in the future:
“It would be nice if they all talked together. This is their job, what they get paid for.”
Scheduling Dilemmas for Fans and Clubs
Even if Palace avoids playing on 16 December, there is no perfect solution. Alternative dates like Tuesday, 23 December, or Christmas Eve create additional problems:
- Fans would have limited travel and logistical options, especially in London, if matches are scheduled late in the day.
- Clubs may face only 48 hours of recovery between games, affecting performance and increasing injury risk.
- Previous experiences, such as Wolves and Chelsea playing on Christmas Eve in 2023, sparked fan controversy despite early kick-offs.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta emphasized the importance of player welfare and supporters in fixture decisions: “Every decision we make has to be guided on two main things—player welfare and then supporters.”
The Broader Issue
Crystal Palace’s fixture pile-up is symptomatic of modern football scheduling challenges, where domestic leagues, European competitions, and cup tournaments often overlap. Clubs competing on multiple fronts are increasingly at risk of player fatigue, injury, and diminished performance, highlighting the need for collaboration between governing bodies to protect athletes and fans alike.
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