Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner fumes over nightmare potential fixture pile-up – ‘It’s irresponsible’

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner stated it might be “irresponsible” for his facet to play two video games in 54 hours in December after reaching the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.

Palace are set to face Arsenal within the final eight of the Carabao Cup on December 16, which would depart Oliver Glasner’s facet – who host Manchester City within the league on December 14 and KuPS within the Conference League on December 18 – going through three matches in simply 5 days.

Palace are hopeful of shifting their match on the Emirates to the next week, presumably on December 23, however Sky Sports News understands Arsenal’s most popular choice is for it to stay on December 16.

Glasner stated: “Honestly, I can’t believe that it will be fixed in that way. I think it would be irresponsible for the players. And everybody has a responsibility for the players. And we have to look after their welfare. That’s our main responsibility – and not just at the club.

“When I heard it for the primary time yesterday [Thursday], I could not consider it that they’re contemplating this. I’m actually upset – as a result of I spoke about this problem three months in the past once I regarded on the schedule. In the summer time, within the low season, there are individuals who need to work on the schedule. I’d actually want in the event that they speak collectively. It can be good if FIFA, UEFA, the Premier League and the EFL talked collectively as a result of it is not so shocking that this could occur. And now they’re discovering one thing the place you possibly can’t discover a resolution? Get it organised and sorted earlier than. This makes me actually upset.

“It’s dangerous, irresponsible to say that you should play Sunday-Tuesday-Thursday. Which is Premier League, EFL and UEFA. Because its about players’ welfare from our side.”

Glasner, who was struggling to cover his anger with the doable fixture congestion that would see them play 5 video games in 11 days earlier than Christmas, added: “We might play each single day, we might have the simplest job: we might not have coaching, not do crew talks and the gamers say, ‘let’s go’. But what actually surprises me is I investigated what’s widespread sense. There was a gathering in July in New York the place FIFA met totally different gamers organisations and so they steered – FIFA, the very best board or organisation in soccer – a compulsory 72 hours between two aggressive video games. And now, they’re saying we do not care? That is what actually makes me upset, you possibly can hear it in the way in which I’m speaking about it.

“Again, there is a solution – the week after December 21 where we play at Leeds. And the next game is December 28. So there is one week. Then there is a huge discussion on why there is no Boxing Day games. They fixed all these games without talking to the other ones?

“We need to play December 21, now we have to as a result of we play on December 18. Then it is Sunday December 28, they moved our sport to January 1. Arsenal play on totally different days – so simply watch for the draw which was a number of days in the past – after which repair the video games. I actually do not perceive it and I actually push very laborious and powerful that they do not allow us to play three video games in 4 days. Because it is irresponsible.”

Glasner went on to supply up another date, suggesting the Carabao Cup quarter-final with Arsenal might be performed on Christmas Eve.

He stated: “Playing it on December 23 after December 21 is the same. You have to move the game to December 20 and that means you have to move the UEFA game to the Wednesday. It’s the last game of the Conference League – normally they play at the same time everywhere. Then it would be nice if the EFL, UEFA and the Premier League all talked together. It’s their job and that’s what they get paid for. This is what I would expect.

“Play it on December 24? Two years there have been two video games on [Christmas Eve]. If not, play the sport on December 26, transfer our sport to Monday December 29 then you possibly can play on January 1. Of course it additionally impacts Arsenal and all our positions. That’s what I imply, watch for the attracts to be performed after which repair. That’s one of the best resolution for the gamers’ welfare – not Oliver Glasner’s welfare – however the gamers. That’s why the followers are going into the stadium to observe these video games. They wish to see one of the best gamers on the pitch. It’s our accountability for everyone concerned.

“I expect that this doesn’t happen. I expect it. As long as they don’t tell us to, I don’t think about it. It’s irresponsible. If we have injured players, and Real Madrid demand a billion pounds for FIFA or UEFA for compensation, then we would have to demand compensation again. There’s AFCON as well. Maybe we don’t have all those professional players. Thousands of fans coming into the stadium, paying money, maybe it’s their first experience watching these games, you want to see the best players. They may not want to see us play with our U18s. That’s what I mean. I expect this doesn’t happen.”

Arteta hints ‘something is feasible’ if fixture issues usually are not addressed

Last season, Manchester City’s Rodri stated that gamers might strike amid a rise in fixtures.

Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta warned “anything is possible” if soccer’s rule makers ignore golf equipment over fixture issues.

The Gunners secured their place within the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup after they landed their eighth consecutive win with a 2-0 victory over Brighton on the Emirates on Wednesday.

Speaking forward of his facet’s league sport at Burnley on Saturday – with Arsenal at the moment in a run of seven matches in simply 22 days – Arteta stated: “Every resolution that we make when it comes to a fixture needs to be guided on two essential issues; gamers’ welfare, after which supporters, and that’s it, and the remaining has to return very distant from that. And we should always always remember that precept.

“If we have that big piece of paper with those two principles there in front before we make any decision, all of us in our industry, we won’t get there. If we don’t and we just ignore that, then anything is possible.”

Arteta continued: “If we look after the players’ welfare and our supporters, we are never going to get to that point [strikes].

“We have to shut the window there. We can not open that window. It needs to be closed. It’s our most treasured worth. We have one of the best league on this planet and we can not simply open any window for something simply to lose that as a result of we do not respect that, and we overlook what we’re made from and what makes this sport and this league so particular.

“And if we respect that, I’m sure we’re going to be totally fine.”