Premier League team faces 46-hour trial

Modern football is compelling even the English to deviate from their traditions. Replays in the FA Cup will no longer take place, and Boxing Day matches are no longer as intense as they used to be.

However, teams are still falling into the traps of a packed schedule. In December, Crystal Palace will face a serious challenge: the London club will have only 46 hours of rest between two matches!

How did this happen? Boxing Day refers to the holiday celebrated on December 26, also known as the day of giving gifts.

Many Russian-speaking football fans associate Boxing Day with the period of football matches between Christmas and New Year, but in reality, it specifically refers to December 26. In England, there is a tradition of hosting football matches on this day.

In the past, Boxing Day was designated as the primary matchday for the Premier League. This year, however, December 27 has been chosen as the main action day instead. Only one match is planned for December 26—a clash between Manchester United and Newcastle.

Observing recent Premier League schedules, it is evident that the intervals between games have slightly widened. Teams generally have an opportunity for two days of rest.

However, Arsenal and Crystal Palace are facing difficulties on this front. On December 23, they are set to clash in the quarterfinals of the English League Cup.

For Crystal Palace, the challenge stems from their Conference League calendar, which required them to play a match on December 18. Therefore, rescheduling the League Cup match to another date was not feasible.

As a result, the Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace match has been scheduled for December 23. While this ensures a two-day rest gap for Arsenal, the situation is far more complicated for Crystal Palace.

On December 18, they play against KuPS, followed by an away game against Leeds on December 20. This leaves just a 46-hour interval between matches.

Similar issues have occurred in the past. For instance, in 2019, Liverpool had to field a youth team in an FA Cup match due to their participation in the FIFA Club World Cup.

The calendar can perpetually place some teams in difficult situations—it is impossible to create a schedule that is convenient for everyone. Read “Zamin” on Telegram!