Palace’s bid to play 24 hours early rejected because of TV
Crystal Palace have failed in an attempt to bring Sunday’s game with Arsenal forward by 24 hours to assist with their preparations for the Conference League final, because of stringent TV contracts.
As Arsenal became champions on Tuesday, their game at Selhurst Park is now a dead rubber, and this prompted Palace officials to raise the prospect of a switch with the Premier League.
Rayo Vallecano, their opponents in Leipzig next Wednesday, have had their final La Liga game against Alavés brought forward to tomorrow evening. The remainder of the Spanish games will be played on Sunday, with such switches commonplace on the continent.
Not for the first time this season, though, Palace have received no assistance and Oliver Glasner, the head coach who is bringing his tenure at Selhurst Park to a close after the final, wearily acknowledged his players must do things the hard way.
“We tried to move the game to Saturday because this would help us,” said Glasner. “Rayo Vallecano play Saturday evening as they moved the game forward. We thought the league has already been decided. I didn’t call anybody but it was Wednesday morning [when the club enquired].
“We were thinking about it before but we didn’t call the Premier League and say, ‘Hey! Move the game if the title race isn’t decided on the last match day!’
“I was just told it doesn’t work, there’s contractual issues, TV rights and everyone wants the big final day with the celebration as Arsenal get the trophy.”
Glasner is not allowing the decision to fester but there was certainly a veiled dig at those in power, given the season began with Palace getting turfed out of the Europa League because of multiclub ownership rules.
“We accepted the demotion into the Conference League and we’ll play Sunday,” said Glasner. “This year it just feels like from 60 games, we had less preparation than the opposition and then it’s just fair that we have the same in the final game.”
On the playing front, Palace defender Chris Richards is in a race against time to be fit for the Conference League final after he was ruled out of Sunday’s game.
Richards had to be helped off the pitch after injuring his left ankle following a collision with Igor Thiago during last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Brentford.