UEFA Reject Crystal Palace Request as Arsenal Fixture Fiasco Deepens
Arsenal and Crystal Palace are set to meet in the Carabao Cup quarter-final on December 23, only two days after their respective Premier League matches. Arsenal face Everton, while Crystal Palace play Leeds on December 21, creating a congested schedule for both clubs.
The fixture was first planned for December 16 but has now been pushed back a week. Both managers, Mikel Arteta and Oliver Glasner, have voiced opposition to the updated schedule from the EFL, citing insufficient recovery time between matches.
To ease the schedule, Arsenal and Crystal Palace submitted formal requests to the Premier League to reschedule their league fixtures to December 20. This adjustment would provide both teams with an extra day of rest before their Cup meeting.
UEFA Declines Crystal Palace Appeal
Crystal Palace also appealed to UEFA for flexibility regarding their final Conference League group stage match against Finnish club KuPS, set for December 18. The club asked to move the game a day earlier to December 17 to better manage player fatigue and travel demands.
UEFA stated that all 18 final Conference League group matches must begin simultaneously on the same date at 8 p.m.
This firm stance leaves Palace with limited options, forcing them to navigate a challenging schedule across domestic and European competitions in December.
Author’s Summary
UEFA’s refusal to adjust match dates leaves Crystal Palace and Arsenal facing a tightly packed December calendar, compounding fixture strain for both teams.