Oliver Glasner: Crystal Palace boss says fixture pile-up would be ‘irresponsible’
There is precedent for two matches involving Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur being played in the middle of a week in recent seasons, but this doesn’t exactly put the welfare of the players front and centre. In July, player representatives and FIFA agreed that there should be a minimum rest period of 72 hours between matches.
“I’m really sorry, but I talked about this three months ago when I looked at the summer, offseason schedule,” Glasner added. “There are people working on this and I would really like them to talk together.
“We have international games, two cups and the Premier League. It would be nice for UEFA, the Premier League and the FA to talk together because it is very surprising. Maybe you can’t find a solution now but we have to get it done. It would be irresponsible to play on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.”
“But there is a solution because the following week, on the 21st [of December] We play Leeds and then we play on the 28th. There was a huge debate about why there is no Boxing Day [matches]. Again, they fixed these games without talking to anyone. “It would be nice if they all talked together, that’s their job, they get paid for it.”
Even if Palace can successfully appeal against the game being played on December 16, the most likely date, there is no solution that will please everyone.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta admitted on Friday: “I think every decision we make in terms of fixtures has to be based on two main things, the welfare of the players and the fans, that’s it.”
The selection, to be held on Tuesday 23 December, will mean that both Arsenal and Palace will have just 48 hours to play after their Premier League matches the previous Sunday, when Arsenal visited Everton and Palace visited Leeds.
Arsenal may feel they shouldn’t have to give up their week off due to a situation not caused by them. Palace will say this is the fairest outcome as both clubs will face the same short-term fatigue issue heading into the cup tie.
Christmas Eve – Wednesday 24 December – has also been mooted, but with London’s transport system set to shut down after 7pm it will become impossible to play an evening match with 60,000 fans at the Emirates. This means playing in the afternoon, technically a workday, and will likely have to start at 4pm at the latest. This is in no way a solution that addresses the needs of fans.
Wolves and Chelsea are forced to play on Christmas Eve 2023; It was the first time in 28 years that a senior match was scheduled that day. It caused huge controversy, but at least it happened on Sunday with kick-off at 1pm.
Whichever day is chosen, someone will be affected, be it the players or the fans.
