The use of head-to-head records for breaking ties in round-robin soccer contests

: Pakaslahti Arvi

Publisher: ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

: 2019

: Journal of the Philosophy of Sport

: JOURNAL OF THE PHILOSOPHY OF SPORT

: J PHILOS SPORT

: 46

: 3

: 355

: 366

: 12

: 0094-8705

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00948705.2019.1615836

Head-to-head records are often used in round-robin contests for breaking ties between athletes or teams that are equal on points or wins. In this paper, I argue, on the one hand, that tie-breaking systems of round-robin soccer contests should give more importance to overall goal difference than to head-to-head records. On the other hand, I also argue that even the mere inclusion of head-to-head records in the tie-breaking criteria of a round-robin soccer contest is problematic.