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7 hours ago
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The Carabao Cup quarter-final between Arsenal and Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium will take place on 23 December, the EFL has confirmed, with the expanded European schedules blamed for “undermining” the reputation of the competition, with both clubs now having to play two matches in three days.
The tie had originally been slated to take place on 16 December but Palace requested for it to be moved because they argued it would have left them with 24 hours less than Arsenal to prepare and leave them with the task of playing three games in five days. The Premier League leaders were in favour of playing the game in its original slot and had opposed the request for it to be pushed back.
However, a statement from the EFL on Monday confirmed that the quarter-final will take place two days before Christmas, with the Football League stating it shared Palace’s and Arsenal’s frustrations with what it described as being an “unavoidable” situation.
“The expansion of European cup competitions and number of exclusive match nights across Europe ahead of the 2024-25 season, implemented without adequate consultation with domestic leagues, means that such scheduling conflicts – for both the EFL Cup and other competitions – are now entirely unavoidable,” read the EFL’s statement. “With those teams competing in Europe already entering the EFL Cup in round three and having been forced to implement further draw conditions to avoid scheduling conflicts at that stage of the competition in the past two seasons, we have shown a willingness to compromise.
“However, to continue making endless concessions only serves to undermine the reputation of the EFL Cup – a competition which delivers vital revenue to EFL Clubs and provides millions of supporters with the opportunity to back their team on the road to Wembley each season.
“It also challenges the traditional scheduling of the English football calendar and strength of our domestic game, which relies upon teams having the necessary time for preparation and ability to field their strongest lineups, in order to entertain their supporters and progress through the competition.”
Palace face Manchester City in the Premier League on 14 December and then have a Conference League game against KuPS on 18 December. Arsenal, meanwhile, take on Wolves in the Premier League on 13 December and do not play again until 21 December when they travel to Everton, also in the Premier League.
