Can computers solve the logistical nightmare of planning English football fixtures (soccer game schedules)?
Professor Graham Kendall from the School of Computer Science at The University of Nottingham believes they can. He has devised a special software programme for the Christmas and New Year fixtures which automatically takes into account detailed criteria laid down by the football authorities and reduces travel distances for clubs and fans.
Graham Kendall, a professor in computer science, said: “The biggest difficulties occur at Christmas and New Year when the top clubs play at least twice over the holiday period. As well as coordinating 92 teams and 46 fixtures I have captured many other real world problems such as avoiding local derbies, ensuring that teams do not play each other twice over the Christmas period, and trying to limit the travel that has to be undertaken by the supporters.”
The software has been programmed to recognise a complex set of guidelines laid down by the football authorities for Christmas and New Year fixtures. These are aimed at easing the pressure on policing and the transport network.
The software has been designed to:
Professor Kendall is currently discussing his results with the Football League and now wants to extend this work to produce fixture lists for the entire season — incorporating a total of 2036 games. The only thing he cannot control is the weather.
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Materials provided by University of Nottingham. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
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