The Premier League has rejected a request from Manchester City to change the order of two of their upcoming matches in May.
Manchester City had asked the league to adjust their schedule ahead of the FA Cup Final against Chelsea on May 16, 2026.
The club wanted to play AFC Bournemouth on May 12, before the final, and then face Crystal Palace on May 19.
However, the original fixture list will remain unchanged. Under the current schedule, City will first play Crystal Palace at home on May 13, then take on Chelsea in the FA Cup final on May 16, before travelling to Bournemouth on May 19.
According to reports, the Premier League rejected the request due to concerns about fairness and competition integrity.
The league explained that changing the order of matches at this stage could affect other clubs and disrupt the balance of the competition.
One key issue was that Crystal Palace’s fixture had already been rearranged earlier in the season due to commitments in the EFL Cup.
In addition, Palace are also involved in European competitions, which makes their schedule more complex. The league felt that making further changes could create an unfair situation.
Bournemouth also raised objections to the proposed change. The club argued that moving the match would reduce their recovery time between games, which could affect player fitness and performance.
This concern played a role in the league’s final decision.
Manchester City had hoped that the adjustment would allow better preparation for the FA Cup final, one of the most important matches of their season.
However, the league made it clear that maintaining a fair and consistent schedule for all teams is a priority.
