Oliver Glasner is outraged by the prospect of Crystal Palace having to play three games in the space of five days before Christmas, labelling football's organisers "irresponsible".

The scheduling of Palace's EFL Cup quarter-final tie against Arsenal has been a subject of debate since the Eagles thumped Liverpool 3-0 in the fourth round on Wednesday.

The three other quarter-final matches are due to be played on December 16, but Palace are already set to face Manchester City in the Premier League on December 14 and Kuopion Palloseura in the Conference League on December 18.

The two clubs are locked in talks over the date of the game, with Arsenal reportedly keen to keep it set for December 16 and Palace hoping to rearrange it for the following week.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday's game against Brentford at Selhurst Park, Glasner lashed out at FIFA, UEFA, the Premier League and the EFL. 

"Honestly, I can't believe that it will be fixed in that way. I think it would be irresponsible for the players," Glasner said when asked if Palace could play three times in five days.

"Everybody has a responsibility to the players. We have to look after their welfare. That's our main responsibility – and not just at the club.

"When I heard it for the first time yesterday, I couldn't believe it that they were considering this. I'm really upset, because I spoke about this issue three months ago when I looked at the schedule. 

"In the off-season, there are people who have to work on the schedule. I would really prefer if they talked together. 

"It would be nice if FIFA, UEFA, the Premier League and the EFL talked together because it's not so surprising that this can happen. Now you can't find a solution? Get it organised and sorted before. This makes me really upset."

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta also said player welfare should be the foremost consideration when fixtures are scheduled, as he previewed the Gunners' trip to Burnley on Saturday.

"Every decision that we make in terms of a fixture has to be guided by two main things, I think – players' welfare and then supporters. That's it," Arteta said.

"The rest has to come very, very far away from that. And we should never forget that principle. That's the only thing I would say."

The EFL Cup row comes as the Premier League blamed UEFA for the fact only one top-flight game will be played on Boxing Day this year – going against a long-held English tradition.

The Premier League said in a statement that "the expansion of European club competitions" had caused difficulties in providing 33 full weekends of fixtures, as is necessitated by arrangements with broadcasters.

Manchester United will host Newcastle United in this year's lone Boxing Day fixture, which falls on a Friday, with nine games to be played across December 27 and 28.