erc/metu
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN ECONOMICS  IV
September 13-16, 2000, Ankara

Do We Need a New Point System in Professional Football Leagues?

Ferda Halıcıoğlu (The University of Greenwich, UK)

Abstract  

This paper analyses the impact of point systems on the degree of competition in professional football leagues via the coefficient of variation (CV). The past, existing and some alternative point systems were applied to a football league consisting of sixteen teams to find out changes in the CV value, which determines the degree of competition statistically. On the basis of the computed CV values, it appears that the most competitive football league takes place in which winner gets three, loser one and draws two points.

Economic Research Center
Middle East Technical University
06531 Ankara Turkey
Phone: + 90 312 210 3044, 210 2003
Fax: +90 312 210 1244
e-mail: metuerc@metu.edu.tr