Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has branded the club’s upcoming fixture congestion “irresponsible,” warning that forcing players to compete in multiple competitions within days would endanger their welfare.
Palace face a daunting stretch in December, with Manchester City visiting Selhurst Park on Sunday, 14 December, followed by a Conference League clash against KuPS on Thursday, 18 December, and a trip to Leeds United on Sunday, 21 December.
Complicating matters further, Arsenal, their EFL Cup quarter-final opponents, have requested the tie be played on Tuesday, 16 December. That would leave the Eagles facing three games in five days, four in eight, and five in 11.
“I can’t believe this won’t be fixed,” Glasner said. “It would be irresponsible for the players, and we have a duty to protect them. I was really upset when I heard it for the first time yesterday — I couldn’t even believe they were considering this.”
The congestion stems from UEFA’s expanded European calendar, which now stretches across ten midweeks to accommodate separate exposure for the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League.
The shift has left domestic organisers struggling to find suitable dates for fixtures.
While the EFL avoided a similar clash last season, Palace’s deep cup run has created a scheduling nightmare that could force the club to choose between rest and competition on multiple fronts.
