- Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner calls for a fix to the congested fixture schedule.
- The club faces playing two games in three days after reaching the EFL Cup quarter-finals.
- Uefa’s European calendar now includes 10 midweeks, causing scheduling conflicts across different competitions.
- Glasner expresses concern over player welfare and calls for better coordination among football authorities.
The Fixure Congestion Issue in English Football
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has expressed his concerns over the congested fixture schedule, describing it as “irresponsible” to play two games in three days. The issue arises after the Eagles reached the EFL Cup quarter-finals and are set to face a busy December calendar.
The Schedule and Its Challenges
Crystal Palace is scheduled to host Manchester City on Sunday, 14 December, followed by a Conference League match against KuPS on Thursday, 18 December. The team will then travel to Leeds United for another Premier League fixture on Sunday, 21 December.
The EFL Cup quarter-finals are set for Tuesday, 16 December, with Arsenal as Palace’s opponents. However, if Palace are required to play this match on that date, it would result in three games in five days or four games in eight days, raising significant concerns about player welfare and fatigue.
The Broader Context: Uefa’s European Calendar
Uefa’s expanded European calendar now features 10 midweeks, up from six two seasons ago. This has led to numerous logistical challenges for clubs across different competitions. The EFL Cup third round had to be played over two weeks in December to accommodate teams involved in the Champions League and Europa League.
The Conference League’s consecutive matches in December, combined with the final round of games overlapping with the regular EFL Cup quarter-finals, have created a perfect storm for fixture congestion. This situation has led to calls for better coordination among football authorities to ensure player welfare remains a priority.
Manager Glasner’s Concerns and Proposed Solutions
Glasner highlighted his frustration during a recent media briefing, stating that it would be “irresponsible” to play three games in such a short span. He expressed concern over the impact on players’ welfare and called for greater collaboration among football bodies like Uefa, the Premier League, and the Football Association (FA).
The manager also pointed out that there are already potential solutions available. For instance, Palace could potentially avoid playing on 16 December if they can argue against it successfully. However, this would still leave them with a challenging schedule in the coming weeks.
Implications for Future Scheduling
The issue of fixture congestion is not limited to Crystal Palace but affects multiple clubs across the Premier League and other European competitions. This situation highlights the need for a more sustainable scheduling model that balances competitive demands with player welfare. As the 2025-26 season progresses, similar challenges are likely to arise, emphasizing the ongoing debate around fixture congestion in English football.
Despite the challenges, Glasner remains optimistic and believes that better communication could prevent such issues in the future. “I’m really upset but I spoke about this issue three months ago when I looked at the schedule,” he said. “There are people who work on this and I would really like it if they talked together.” Glasner’s comments reflect a growing concern among managers and players alike, as the complexity of modern football schedules continues to evolve.
