Oliver Glasner slams “irresponsible” Crystal Palace fixture congestion | OneFootball

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has branded his club’s looming December schedule “irresponsible,” warning that a proposed run of fixtures could compromise both player welfare and the integrity of competition.

Palace’s progress to the EFL Cup quarter-finals has created a calendar crunch: Manchester City on December 14, KuPS in the Europa Conference League on the 18th, and Leeds United on the 21st. Arsenal, their opponents in the EFL Cup, are pushing for a December 16 date, a move that would see Palace play three matches in five days and five in 11.

“I can’t believe this won’t be fixed,” Glasner said, speaking to the media. “It would be irresponsible for the players, we have a duty of care. I was really upset when I first heard about it. I couldn’t believe they were even considering it.”

The Austrian’s frustration highlights the broader tension between UEFA’s expanded European calendar and domestic competition scheduling. UEFA’s new structure grants each continental tournament its own midweek window, squeezing England’s domestic cups and leaving little room for flexibility.

While Glasner calls for greater cooperation between UEFA, the Premier League, and the FA, the options appear grim. Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta echoed the call for “player welfare and supporters” to guide decision-making, but fixture congestion around Christmas offers few solutions.

GFN | Finn Entwistle