Crystal Palace could play two games in three days in December after reaching the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, where they've been drawn to face Arsenal at the Emirates
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 29: Oliver Glasner, Manager of Crystal Palace, looks on prior to the Carabao Cup Fourth Round match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield on October 29, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
Oliver Glasner isn't happy with the schedule(Image: Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
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Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has labelled football authorities 'irresponsible' as his team face the prospect of playing two games in three days. Thanks to Wednesday's emphatic 3-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield, Palace have reached the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.
But that's presented Glasner's side with a fixture nightmare. The Eagles are scheduled to play Manchester City on Sunday, December 14, a Conference League match against KuPS on 18 December, and then Leeds on December 21.
But Arsenal, Palace's quarter-final opponents, want the tie at the Emirates to be played on Tuesday, December 16. Should Arsenal get their way, Palace would be forced to play two games in three days, three in five, four in eight or five in 11.
"I can't believe this won't be fixed," Glasner bemoaned. "It would be irresponsible for the players and we have a responsibility for them and we have to look after their welfare, but not just ours at the club.
"I was really upset when I heard it for the first time yesterday. I couldn't even believe that they were considering this."
The EFL, who organise the Carabao Cup, narrowly avoided a similar nightmare last season. Due to the Conference League now being played over 10 weeks instead of six, Chelsea would've been in the same predicament had they not lost to Newcastle in the fourth round in October 2024.
Unfortunately for Arsenal and Palace, it's unlikely that a solution would please everyone. If the tie was moved to Tuesday, December 23, both teams would have just over 48 hours to recover from their Premier League games on the previous Sunday.
"I'm really upset but I spoke about this issue three months ago when I looked at the schedule, in the summer, the off-season," Glasner continued.
"There are people who work on this and I would really like it if they talked together.
Arsenal's Dutch defender #12 Jurrien Timber (L) vies with Crystal Palace's Japanese midfielder #18 Daichi Kamada (R) during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium in London on October 26, 2025. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal will host Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals
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"We have international games, the two cups and the Premier League. It would be nice if UEFA, the Premier League and the FA talked together because it's so surprising. Maybe now you can't find a solution, but we need to get it sorted.
"It would be irresponsible playing Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. But there is a solution because the week after, on the 21st [of December] we play Leeds and then we play on the 28th.
"There was a big discussion as to why there are no Boxing Day [matches]. Again, they fixed these games without talking to anyone. It would be nice if they all talked together, this is their job, what they get paid for."
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