Scheduling the Belgian Football League During Special Periods

SCHEDULING THE BELGIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE DURING SPECIAL PERIODS

Word count: 27.411

Sam Wauters Student number: 01306574

Promotor / Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Dries Goossens Commissioner: Xiajie Yi

Master’s Dissertation submitted to obtain the degree of:

Master in Business Engineering: Operations Management

Academic year: 2018-2019

Deze pagina is niet beschikbaar omdat ze persoonsgegevens bevat. Universiteitsbibliotheek Gent, 2021.

This page is not available because it contains personal information. Ghent University, Library, 2021.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank my supervisor, professor Goossens for giving me the opportunity to do this research under his guidance. Next, I would like to thank Xiajie Yi for the continuous and helpful feedback during this research process.

A special thanks goes to my parents and sister for supporting me in my studies throughout the years by giving encouragements during the exams and the writing of this thesis. I also want to thank my girlfriend Sarah for the countless hours we worked together to write our dissertations.

This accomplishment would not have been possible without the support of each of the above.

Table of Content

List of Tables & Figures______X

1. Introduction ______1

Part 1: Literature ______3

2. Round-Robin Scheduling ______5 2.1. Introduction ______5 2.2. Terminology ______6 2.3. Objectives ______10 2.3.1. Break Minimization ______10 2.3.2. Travelling Distance Minimization ______10 2.4. Constraints ______14 2.4.1. Basic Constraints ______14 2.4.2. Externally given constraints ______14 2.4.3. Fairness Constraints ______16 2.5. Solution Methods ______18 2.5.1. Decomposition ______18 2.5.2. Integer Programming ______19 2.5.3. Constraint programming ______26 2.5.4. Metaheuristic ______26

3. Belgian Pro League Football ______28 3.1. Introduction & league format ______28 3.2. Stakeholders ______29 3.2.1. The Belgian Pro League ______29 3.2.2. The TV broadcasters ______30 3.2.3. The police and the taxpayer ______31 3.2.4. The clubs and their fans ______31 3.3. Scheduling Methods ______32

Part 2: Case Study: Distance Minimization in the Jupiler Pro League ______35

4. Problem Description ______37 4.1. Introduction ______37 4.2. Solution Method ______38

VII

4.3. Constraints ______39 4.4. Data ______41 4.4.1. Travelling Distance Matrix ______41 4.4.2. Actual Schedules & Distances ______42 4.5. Special Period Fairness Approaches ______44 4.5.1. Fairness Approach 1: Total Distance Minimization ______44 4.5.2. Fairness Approach 2: Limited Travelling Distance per Team per Round ______44 4.5.3. Fairness Approach 3: Limited Difference Between Teams ______44 4.5.4. Fairness Approach 4: Limited Travelling Distance per Team over Special Rounds ____ 45

5. Model ______46 5.1. Basic Model ______46 5.1.1. Indices ______46 5.1.2. Decision Variables ______48 5.1.3. Parameters ______48 5.1.4. Objective Function ______49 5.1.5. Constraints ______50 5.2. Fairness Approaches Constraints ______52 5.2.1. Fairness Approach 1: Total Minimization ______52 5.2.2. Fairness Approach 2: Limited Travelling Distance per Team per Round ______52 5.2.3. Fairness Approach 3: Limited Difference Between Teams ______53 5.2.4. Fairness Approach 4: Limited Travelling Distance per Team over Special Rounds ____ 53

6. Simulation & Results ______54 6.1. Fairness Approach 1: Total Distance Minimization ______54 6.1.1. 2-Round Special Period ______55 6.1.2. 4-Round Special Period ______56 6.2. Fairness Approach 2: Limited Travelling Distance per Team per Round ______58 6.2.1. 2-Round Special Period ______59 6.2.2. 4-Round Special Period ______61 6.3. Fairness Approach 3: Limited Difference Between Teams ______63 6.3.1. 2-Round Special Period ______64 6.3.2. 4-Round Special Period ______65 6.4. Fairness Approach 4: Limited Travelling Distance per Team over Special Rounds ______67 6.5. Additional Approaches: ______70 6.5.1. Additional Approach 1: Using the actual home-away patterns ______70 6.5.2. Additional Approach 2: Combining Approach 2 and 4 ______74

VIII

7. Discussion ______77 7.1. Season 2018-2019 ______77 7.2. Season 2017-2018 ______80 7.3. Season 2016-2017 ______81

8. Conclusion______83

References ______85

Appendices ______91

A. Distances ______93

B. Actual Special Period Schedules ______96

C. Attractive Matches ______97

D. CPLEX Model & Data ______98

E. Resulting Tournament Schedules: Fairness Approach 1 ______106

F. Resulting Tournament Schedules: Fairness Approach 2 ______109

G. Resulting Tournament Schedules: Fairness Approach 3 ______112

H. Resulting Tournament Schedules: Fairness Approach 4 ______115

I. Resulting Tournament Schedules: Additional Approach 1 ______117

J. Resulting Tournament Schedules: Additional Approach 2 ______120

K. Home-Away Patterns ______122

List of Tables & Figures

Table 2-1: Timetable ...... 7 Table 2-2: Complementary pattern sets for a 6-team tournament ...... 7 Table 2-3: Mirrored double round-robin tournament ...... 9

Table 3-1: Basic Match Schedule...... 32

Table 4-1: Travelling Distances per Team: Season 2018-2019 ...... 42 Table 4-2: Travelling Distances per Team: Season 2017-2018 ...... 43 Table 4-3: Travelling Distances per Team: Season 2016-2017 ...... 43

Table 6-1: Total Overall Distances & Comparison Approach 1 ...... 54 Table 6-2: 2-Round Special Period Schedule 2018-2019 (Fairness 1) ...... 55 Table 6-3: 2-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2018-2019 (Fairness 1) ...... 55 Table 6-4: 2-Round Special Period Schedule 2017-2018 (Fairness 1) ...... 55 Table 6-5: 2-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2017-2018 (Fairness 1) ...... 55 Table 6-6: 2-Round Special Period Schedule 2016-2017 (Fairness 1) ...... 56 Table 6-7: 2-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2016-2017 (Fairness 1) ...... 56 Table 6-8: 4-Round Special Period Schedule 2018-2019 (Fairness 1) ...... 56 Table 6-9: 4-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2018-2019 (Fairness 1) ...... 56 Table 6-10: 4-Round Special Period Schedule 2017-2018 (Fairness 1) ...... 57 Table 6-11: 4-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2017-2018 (Fairness 1) ...... 57 Table 6-12: 4-Round Special Period Schedule 2016-2017 (Fairness 1) ...... 57 Table 6-13: 4-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2016-2017 (Fairness 1) ...... 57 Table 6-14: Total Overall Distances & Comparison Approach 2 ...... 58 Table 6-15: 2-Round Special Period Schedule 2018-2019 (Fairness 2) ...... 59 Table 6-16: 2-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2018-2019 (Fairness 2) ...... 59 Table 6-17: 2-Round Special Period Schedule 2017-2018 (Fairness 2) ...... 60 Table 6-18: 2-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2017-2018 (Fairness 2) ...... 60 Table 6-19: 2-Round Special Period Schedule 2016-2017 (Fairness 2) ...... 60 Table 6-20: 2-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2016-2017 (Fairness 2) ...... 60

Table 6-21: 4-Round Special Period Schedule 2018-2019 (Fairness 2) ...... 61 Table 6-22: 4-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2018-2019 (Fairness 2) ...... 61 Table 6-23: 4-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2017-2018 (Fairness 2) ...... 62 Table 6-24: 4-Round Special Period Schedule 2017-2018 (Fairness 2) ...... 62 Table 6-25: 4-Round Special Period Schedule 2016-2017 (Fairness 2) ...... 62 Table 6-26: 4-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2016-2017 (Fairness 2) ...... 62 Table 6-27: Total Overall Distances & Comparison Approach 3 ...... 63 Table 6-28: 2-Round Special Period Schedule 2018-2019 (Fairness 3) ...... 64 Table 6-29: 2-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2018-2019 (Fairness 3) ...... 64 Table 6-30: 2-Round Special Period Schedule 2017-2018 (Fairness 3) ...... 64 Table 6-31: 2-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2017-2018 (Fairness 3) ...... 64 Table 6-32: 2-Round Special Period Schedule 2016-2017 (Fairness 3) ...... 65 Table 6-33: 2-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2016-2017 (Fairness 3) ...... 65 Table 6-34: 4-Round Special Period Schedule 2018-2019 (Fairness 3) ...... 65 Table 6-35: 4-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2018-2019 (Fairness 3) ...... 65 Table 6-36: 4-Round Special Period Schedule 2017-2018 (Fairness 3) ...... 66 Table 6-37: 4-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2017-2018 (Fairness 3) ...... 66 Table 6-38: Total Overall Distances & Comparison: Approach 4 ...... 67 Table 6-39: 4-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2018-2019 (Fairness 4) ...... 68 Table 6-40: 4-Round Special Period Schedule 2018-2019 (Fairness 4) ...... 68 Table 6-41: 4-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2017-2018 (Fairness 4) ...... 68 Table 6-42: 4-Round Special Period Schedule 2017-2018 (Fairness 4) ...... 68 Table 6-43: 4-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2016-2017 (Fairness 4) ...... 69 Table 6-44: 4-Round Special Period Schedule 2016-2017 (Fairness 4) ...... 69 Table 6-45: Total Overall Distances & Comparison: Additional Approach 1 ...... 70 Table 6-46: 2-Round Special Period Schedule 2018-2019 (Additional Approach 1) ...... 71 Table 6-47: 2-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2018-2019 (Additional Approach 1) ...... 71 Table 6-48: 2-Round Special Period Schedule 2017-2018 (Additional Approach 1) ...... 72 Table 6-49: 2-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2017-2018 (Additional Approach 1) ...... 72 Table 6-50: 2-Round Special Period Schedule 2016-2017 (Additional Approach 1) ...... 72 Table 6-51: 2-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2016-2017 (Additional Approach 1) ...... 72 Table 6-52: 4-Round Special Period Schedule 2018-2019 (Additional Approach 1) ...... 73 Table 6-53: 4-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2018-2019 (Additional Approach 1) ...... 73 Table 6-54: 4-Round Special Period Schedule 2017-2018 (Additional Approach 1) ...... 73

Table 6-55: 4-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2017-2018 (Additional Approach 1) ...... 73 Table 6-56: 4-Round Special Period Schedule 2016-2017 (Additional Approach 1) ...... 74 Table 6-57: 4-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2016-2017 (Additional Approach 1) ...... 74 Table 6-58: Total Overall Distances & Comparison: Additional Approach 2 ...... 74 Table 6-59: 4-Round Special Period Schedule 2018-2019 (Additional Approach 2) ...... 75 Table 6-60: 4-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2018-2019 (Additional Approach 2) ...... 75 Table 6-61: 4-Round Special Period Schedule 2017-2018 (Additional Approach 2) ...... 75 Table 6-62: 4-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2017-2018 (Additional Approach 2) ...... 75 Table 6-63: 4-Round Special Period Schedule 2016-2017 (Additional Approach 2) ...... 76 Table 6-64: 4-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2016-2017 (Additional Approach 2) ...... 76

Table 7-1: 2-Round Special Period Results Comparison: Season 2018-2019 ...... 77 Table 7-2: 4-Round Special Period Results Comparison: Season 2018-2019 ...... 78 Table 7-3: 2-Round Special Period Results Comparison: Season 2017-2018 ...... 80 Table 7-4: 4-Round Special Period Results Comparison: Season 2017-2018 ...... 80 Table 7-5: 2-Round Special Period Results Comparison: Season 2016-2017 ...... 81 Table 7-6: 4-Round Special Period Results Comparison: Season 2016-2017 ...... 81

XII

1. Introduction

Every sports competition has the need for a suitable schedule that allows a fair and practically feasible tournament. The amount of money in professional sports has increased substantially in the past decades. For example, according to a research by Deloitte (2018) the European football market is worth €25.5 billion. Since it is such a big business, the different stakeholders demand a fair and suitable tournament to assure their revenues and wishes. Also, there is a wide application for scheduling problems and methods, not only in professional but also recreational sports leagues (Russel & Urban, 2006). It seems easy to set-up a tournament, but the rise in requirements and constraints has made practical problems difficult to optimize. The increase in computational capabilities of microprocessors and development of more efficient algorithms allowed researchers to deal with these complex problems. Because of this, sports scheduling has become an important research area within operations research (Nurmi, et al., 2010).

The scheduling of the Belgian first division of football is one of these practical problems that is being solved by using methods originating from the field of operations research. Continuous changes to this double round-robin tournament and the requirements of the stakeholders make this scheduling problem an almost unending task with constant room for improvement. The objective of this research is further improving the tournament schedule for the Belgian first division, more specifically by trying to reduce the travelling distance for the teams during special periods. These include the period around Christmas and other days with potential bad weather during winter. It can be assumed that the teams and fans are not keen on travelling a long distance to see their team play during these special periods. By building upon the research that has already been done for scheduling the Belgian football and other tournament problems, a suitable method to solve this distance minimization problem will be set-up.

The remainder of this paper is structured as follows. The first part consists of the literature research. The terminology that is used in round-robin scheduling literature is explained, together with practical objectives, requirements and solution methods used in practice. The literature concerning the characteristics and scheduling of the Belgian football is also discussed. The second part contains the actual research for the reduction of travelling distance during the special periods. The problem is explained more in depth, followed by a description of the actual model used and the results. These results are then discussed and summarized in the conclusion. Some limitations of this research and recommendations for future research are also given in the conclusion.

Part 1: Literature

2. Round-Robin Scheduling

2.1. Introduction De Werra (1980) was one of the earliest researchers that used mathematical methods to schedule sports leagues. He utilized concepts from graph theory to deal with geographical constraints within a tournament. Since then, many studies and papers have been written on round-robin scheduling. A listing of sports scheduling principles, methodologies and applications can be found in the bibliography by Kendall, Knust, Ribeiro, & Urrutia (2010). Many of the studies in the bibliography build on the concepts proposed by de Werra and introduce several other specific terms to describe the scheduling problems and their solutions. First, a basic understanding of these terms is necessary to better understand the round-robin scheduling concepts and its practical applications.

Various goals exist when setting up a tournament schedule. Explicit objectives like distance and cost minimization are possible or the goal may simply be to set-up a feasible schedule. The two most common objectives will be explained more in depth, particularly distance minimization.

When setting up a schedule for sports leagues, many wishes and constraints have to be taken into account. The various stakeholders (teams, fans, local governments, TV broadcasters, etc.) often have conflicting requirements that they want to see represented in the schedule. The constraints that are most commonly used in sports scheduling literature are explained more in detail.

The various methods used today to solve round-robin scheduling problems are explained next. Ranging from combinatorial approaches, integer programming (IP), constraint programming (CP) to metaheuristic techniques. Each has its own characteristics, strengths, weaknesses and the possibility to find an optimal or near-optimal solution.

2.2. Terminology

Round-Robin Tournament A tournament where all teams meet all other teams a defined number of times is called a round- robin tournament (Rasmussen & Trick, Round robin scheduling – a survey, 2008).

The most common format is the double round-robin tournament, where teams have two games against each other. The three biggest European football leagues (England, Spain and Germany) (Deloitte, 2018) all use the double round-robin format. The number of games that each team must play in this case, is given by the number of teams in the tournament. In a tournament with n teams, each team will play 2(n - 1) games (Carlsson, Johansson, & Larson, 2017). For example, each of the 20 teams in the English Premier League will play 38 games.

Triple and quadruple round-robin tournaments also occur in practice, with three and four matches between the teams respectively. For example, from 1995 till 2016, the Danish top football league was played in a triple round-robin tournament by 12 teams. Each team had to play 33 games (Rasmussen, 2008).

The total number of games to be played in a k round-robin tournament is equal to (n/2)(n-1)k, with n the number of teams (Drexl & Knust, 2007). So, in a double round-robin tournament with 16 teams, a total of 240 games must be scheduled. For the Danish football league, the number of games was equal to 198.

Time slots/rounds, bye, temporally constrained & relaxed and timetables Games between two teams must be assigned to time slots so that each team has at most one game in each time slot or round (Rasmussen & Trick, 2008), with games in one round usually played in the same midweek or weekend. With an odd number of teams, every round one team has a bye which means they have no game scheduled. In this case a dummy team can be added to make the scheduling process easier. For each round, the team playing the dummy has a bye.

The minimum number of rounds is equal to the number of games each team must play in the entire tournament, so at least 2(n – 1) rounds are required to schedule a double round-robin tournament. When the amount of time slots equals this lower bound, the schedule is compact or temporally constrained. With an even number of teams this means each team has a match in every round. For an uneven number of teams, the necessary byes must be added.

In a temporally relaxed schedule, the number of rounds is not minimized and generally larger than the lower bound. It is not necessary that every team plays in each round and thus they can have some rounds without a game scheduled (Drexl & Knust, 2007).

To present the allocation of games to rounds, a timetable is used. The timetable in table 2-1 shows the opponent for each team in every round of the single round-robin tournament. The rows of the timetable represent the teams and the columns represent the rounds. The value of row i and column j gives the opponent of team i on round j (Rasmussen & Trick, 2008). Rounds 1 2 3 4 5 Team 1 63524 Team 2 56413 Team 3 41652 Team 4 35261 Team 5 24136 Team 6 12345 Table 2-1: Timetable

Venue, home & away games, (complementary) patterns and balanced tournaments When two teams meet each other, one team plays at home while the other plays an away game. Each team has its own venue where its scheduled home games are played. Away games are played at opposing teams’ venues. The venues have an address that is used to determine the travelling distance between a team’s home venue and the opponent’s venue

Rounds 1 2 3 4 5 The sequence of games played at home, away or a bye scheduled for a Team 1 10101 team during the season is called the home-away pattern. Table 2-2 Team 2 01011 shows an example of a pattern set for a 6-team tournament, with 1 Team 3 10010 indicating a home game and 0 an away game. For each pair of teams Team 4 01101 (1-2, 3-4, 5-6), the patterns are complementary: if the first pattern has Team 5 10100 an away game on a certain round, the second pattern has a home game Team 6 01011 on that same round (Nurmi, et al., 2010). Table 2-2: Complementary pattern sets for a 6-team tournament

The tournament is balanced when the deviation of number of home and away games for each team over the whole season is equal to 1. In other words, each team has an equal number of home and away games at the end of the seasons. In a double round-robin tournament, the two games between each pair of teams are required to be played in opposite venues. So, each team must play a home and an away game against every opponent. This forces the tournament to be balanced and forces the travelling distance over the whole season to be fixed. For single or multi round-robin schedules, it is often required that the schedule is balanced and that the deviation of home and away games for each pair is no more and as close as possible to one (Rasmussen & Trick, 2008). Note that the single round-robin tournament in table 2-2 is not balanced as the number of rounds is uneven.

Breaks and mirrored schedule A break occurs when a team has two consecutive home or away matches in its home-away pattern (Goossens & Spieksma, Breaks, cuts, and patterns, 2011). In table 2-2, team 2 has consecutive away games on round 3 & 4, so it’s said to have an away break on the fourth round. Team 4 has a home break on the third round.

In a single round-robin tournament, only two home-away patterns exist without breaks: starting and ending with a home (away) game. Max two teams will have a break-free pattern, since all teams must have different patterns to allow a match between each pair of teams (as two teams with an equal home-away pattern cannot play each other). This implies that the lower bound for breaks in a single round-robin schedule equals n–2. A tournament with 16 teams thus has a minimum of 14 breaks.

The minimum number of breaks in a double round-robin tournament is 2n-4. For 16 teams this means at least 28 breaks. However, schedules with this minimum number of breaks often have the undesired characteristic that the last round of the first half of the tournament has the same pairings as the first round of the second half (Drexl & Knust, 2007). In practice it is often preferred that schedule is mirrored. This means that the assignment of opponents is identical in the first and second half of the tournament for each team, except that the team playing at home becomes the away team and vice versa (Rasmussen & Trick, 2008). Table 2-3 is an example of a mirrored double round-robin tournament with 6 teams. It is proved by de Werra (1981) that the minimum number of breaks for a mirrored schedule is 3n-6. At least 42 breaks are thus needed when scheduling 16 teams.

Rounds1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 910 Team 1 +6 -3 +5 -2 +4 -6 +3 -5 +2 -4 Team 2 +5 -6 -4 +1 -3 -5 +6 +4 -1 +3 Team 3 -4 +1+6 -5 +2+4 -1 -6 -5 -2 Team 4 +3 -5 +2 -6 -1 -3 +5 -2 +6+1 Team 5 -2 +4 -1 +3 +6 +2 -4 +1 -3 -6 Team 6 -1 +2 -3 +4 -5 +1 -2 +3 +4 +5 Table 2-3: Mirrored double round-robin tournament

Carry-over effect In physical sports like football, with risks of injuries and fatigue, the carry-over effect might influence the performance and results of the teams. If team A is first scheduled to play against team B and then against team C in the following round, team C is said to receive a carry-over effect from team B. For example, when team B is a strong opponent with a physical style of playing, team A will be negatively affected by fatigue or possible injuries and this is an advantage for the opponent in the next round, team C. Or otherwise, if team B is relatively weak, team A could rest some players to have an advantage over its next opponent. The effect can also be psychological if team A loses against the stronger team B and consequently has a loss in morale and confidence. This will benefit team C. It is also possible that team B receives a carry-over effect from team C: if team A meets the stronger team C in the next round, they might have extra motivation for the first game against team B. It is often preferred when setting up the tournament schedule that carry-over effects are distributed over the teams in a fair way, so no team has an excessive advantage or disadvantage over the other teams (Goossens & Spieksma, 2012).

2.3. Objectives

2.3.1. Break Minimization Breaks are generally not preferred by teams because of the impact on the results and financial reasons. By avoiding multiple rounds without a home game, regular earnings are ensured (Rasmussen & Trick, 2008). Breaks are also not preferred by the fans as they dislike long periods without a home game (Nurmi, et al., 2010). Therefore, a minimization of breaks is often an important goal when setting up a tournament schedule, especially in many professional European football leagues. As mentioned above, the lower bounds for breaks in a single and double round-robin tournament are n-2 and 2n-4, respectively. Constructive methods have been developed that are able to solve this break minimization problem. De Werra (1982) used the relationship between graph theory and tournaments to obtain feasible schedules by constructing the canonical 1- factorization method.

However as more and more requirements were considered from various stakeholders, the theoretical methods and results from graph theory were not sufficient. The addition of these constraints led to the definition of constrained minimum break problems. Since these practical problems were significantly different from each other, various methods and algorithms were developed (Rasmussen & Trick, 2008). Some of these methods will be further explained below.

2.3.2. Travelling Distance Minimization Another important objective for tournament scheduling is the minimization of the travel distances for the participating teams. The two main approaches are the Travelling Tournament Problem and the distance minimization on specific rounds during the tournament.

Travelling Tournament Problem The Travelling Tournament Problem was first presented by Easton, Nemhauser, & Trick (2001). They were inspired by previous work done for the Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States. In the MLB, thirty teams have to play 162 games each over a season of 180 days stretching from early April till the end of September. The already difficult scheduling task is further complicated by the distances the teams have to travel. Because the teams are located all over the United States, they go on ‘road trips’, where multiple opponents are visited before they return home. The total travelling distance is thus an important factor for the teams in the MLB.

The key to scheduling the MLB is the conflict between the travelling distances and the home-away patterns. Away trips of more than two weeks, where the teams visit 3 or 4 opponents, as well as staying at home for so long are not preferred.

This combination of travelling distance and home-away patterns is not uncommon and so the problem class of the Travelling Tournament Problem was proposed. The general Travelling Tournament Problem defined by Easton et al. (2001) gives the basic elements needed to describe a practical case. The double round-robin tournament is played by n teams. A (n x n) distance matrix D is used to represent the travelling distances between the teams’ venues. The teams begin and end the tournament at their home venue. When the teams have an away game after they are at home, they must travel from their home venue to the away venue. For consecutive away games they don’t return home, but travel between the away venues directly. As mentioned above, these consecutive away games are called road trips. Home stands occur when teams play consecutive home games. The length of the home stands or road trips is equal to the number of consecutive home or away games, respectively. A lower limit L and an upper limit U can be imposed on the length of both the home stands and road trips.

The goal is to find a schedule for the double round-robin tournament where the length of the road trips and home stands is between U and L and that the total travelling distance by all the teams is minimized. Additional constraints can be added so that the schedule is mirrored, that teams cannot play each other twice on consecutive rounds, etc.

It would seem that these problems are relatively easy to solve by combining existing break minimization methods and techniques from the Travelling Salesman Problem, which shows similarity to the distance problem. However, simultaniously tackling the optimality (with regards to the travel distance) and feasibilty issues (the home-away patterns) is very difficult and computationally complex. Several solution methods have been proposed: Easton, Nemhauser, & Trick (2003) proved the first optimal solution for an instance of 8 teams by using integer and constraint programming; Ribeiro & Urrutia (2007) used several heuristics to solve the mirrored traveling tournemant problem of the 2003 Brazilian football championship with 24 teams; Anagnostopoulos, Michel, Van Hentenryck, & Vergados (2006) proposed a simulated annealing algorithm that significantly improved results over other approaches for larger instances. An updated list of the best solutions and the details of all instances are found at Trick (2019) (https://mat.gsia.cmu.edu/TOURN/) (last updated on April 22nd 2019).

Distance minimization on specific rounds While road trips are common in large countries like the US, they do not occur in most of the European sports leagues. The teams have only one or two games a week and they return home after every away game, generally on the same day. This implies that their total travelling distance over the whole season is fixed and so a minimization of the total distance as seen in the Travelling Tournament Problem is pointless. However, other factors can be considered to offer a more attractive schedule for the teams and their supporters. Examples are minimizing the distance travelled by all teams on midweek rounds or during selected periods or rounds.

Kendall (2008) tried to minimize the total travelling distance by all the teams in the English football leagues over the Christmas holiday period. Teams and their fans wish to limit their travel distances over this period for various reasons: avoiding trips in potential bad (snowy) weather, driving in the dark on days with less daylight, wanting to spend more time with friends and family on Christmas, etc.

He used the schedules and teams that were playing in the top four divisions in England, more specifically in the ‘Barclays Premiership’, ‘Coca-Cola Championship’, ‘Coca-Cola League One’ and ‘Coca-Cola League Two’, in the four seasons from 2002 till 2006. Each of these leagues is a stand alone double round-robin tournament, with the former consisting of 20 teams and the other three each having 24 teams. The goal was to set-up schedules for the Boxing Day (26th of December) and New Year’s Day rounds. With a total of 92 teams in all four leagues, 46 games must be scheduled in each round. An added difficulty is that a pairing system determines that various teams, for example Manchester City and Manchester United, are not allowed to have a home game on the same day. The main reason for these restrictions are police requirements to guarantee the safety. This pairing system is applied across the divisions, which means that schedules from one division cannot be set-up without taking the other divisions into account. Kendall listed some other hard constraints that could not be violated:

 A team playing at home on the Boxing Day round must have an away game on the New Year’s round, and vice versa.  Two teams cannot play each other on both the Boxing Day and New Year’s Day round.  Teams that are paired are not allowed to play each other.  The number of paired teams having a home game was not allowed to exceed given limits. These limits were based on the values from the actual used schedules.

 The number of London-based, London Premiership and Greater Manchester teams that can play at home on one round are limited.

The distances between the teams used in the model are calculated based on the postcode (ZIP code) of the teams and using a route planner (http://greenflag.co.uk).

To generate a solution a two-stage approach was used. In the first stage a Depth First Search algorithm is utilized to produce a solution for both days, for each of the four divisions. The schedules for the two rounds were a significant improvement over the actual used schedules in terms of the minimization of the travelling distance. However, the pairing constraints and London & Manchester constraints were not yet incorporated, because they work across the divisions. To incorprate these cross-divisional constraints into the schedules, the second stage with a Local Search algorithm was used.

The results were a significant reduction in travelling distance compared to the actual schedules, without violating any of the listed constraints. For the four seasons incorporated in the study, an average overall saving of 27,38% is achieved.

It should be noted that Kendall only made a schedule for the Boxing Day and New Year’s Day rounds, so it’s not sure if this distance minimization would allow the generation of a feasible schedule for the entire tournament. An extension of his research to the entire tournament with the inclusion of additional constraints is needed. He mentioned himself that he would like to do so by discussing the problem with the stakeholders and thus incorporating the issues they actually encounter.

In a more recent study, Kendall and Westphal (2013) expanded the model by going from 2 to 4 rounds being considered for distance minimization and they adressed several shortcomings in the solution method. The previously used two-phased approach was time consuming, especially with the Depth First Search phase taking up to 20 hours to complete. In addition to this, the solutions were not certain to be optimal as metaheuristics were used.

The new proposed solution method aimed to solve the problem in a single phase and considers all four divisions simultaneously. In addition to this, they suggested that the best solution with an overall minimum distance might not be accepted, but a slightly worse solution where the distance for the teams within each division is below a limited value might be preferred. This will allow for a schedule that is viewed as more fair by the teams and supporters.

The mathematical model together with the scenarios to limit the distance are discussed in section 2.5.2.2. Solving the model in CPLEX resulted in a significant improvement over the actual schedules as well.

2.4. Constraints

2.4.1. Basic Constraints The first basic constraint that is often used in actual schedules states that each team (for n = even) must play exactly one game on each round. This makes the tournaments compact.

As mentioned above, in a round-robin tournament each team has a fixed number of matches with every other team. The second basic constraint must assure that in a k round-robin tournament, each team meets all other teams exactly k times. For a double round-robin tournament this means that every pair of two teams must have a match on 2 different rounds, one in each of the two halves of the tournament. An additional constraint states that when a match of team i against team j is first scheduled as a home game for team i, the match in the second half of the tournament must be played at team j’s venue.

These constraints are generalized by Briskorn and Drexl (2009): a k round-robin tournament with n teams has k(n-1) rounds with k matches between team i and j. At least ⌊푘/2⌋ matches of team i against team j are held at both teams’ venue.

2.4.2. Externally given constraints Venue Constraints Sometimes it is necessary that team i plays at home (or away) on a predefined round of the tournament. For towns that only have one team playing in the competition, it is preferred not to have a home game when another big event, like a festival or international conference, takes place in the vicinity of the stadium. Also, stadiums are often co-owned by the club and the city or some other public agency and they might host other events at the stadium. So, stadium availability cannot be taken for granted and must be handled by constraints when setting up the schedule (Briskorn & Drexl, 2009). These can be hard or soft constraints, depending on the reason (Schaerf, 1999).

If, for example a venue is unavailable due to a concert or reconstruction, it can be considered a hard constraint. In case the requirement is caused by nearby events in the city, it would be a soft constraint (Rasmussen, 2008).

Region Constraints The venues of the teams are located in different regions. Some regions have more than one team and having multiple home games by these teams on the same day can cause heavy traffic and a higher demand for local police forces and firemen. A notable example is the London region where 13 professional football teams have their venue. Even with their own venue, too many home games can overload the region with traffic jams and congested public transport (Kendall, 2008). To avoid excessive problems, only a limited number of home games can be scheduled on the same day within the same region. To establish this upper bound the individual regions’ aspects like road networks and public transport must be taken into account (Briskorn & Drexl, 2009).

Attractiveness Constraints Television broadcasting stations have become one of the most important stakeholders for sports leagues. The cost of the broadcasting rights for the English Premier League Football has risen to €10.25 million (£9.2 million) (The Associated Press, 2019). To have a more optimal return on their large investments, TV broadcasters want to present as many attractive games as possible (Briskorn & Drexl, 2009). So, scheduling two attractive games at the same round might not be preferred. Instead, the broadcasters prefer an even distribution over the season or a fixed number of attractive games on a certain round. For example, in Brazil, only one match per round could be broadcast to Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. As TV Globo wanted to generate as much revenue as possible from advertising, the goal was a maximization of number of rounds where at least one game of an elite team could be broadcast in both Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo (Ribeiro & Urrutia, 2006).

The attractiveness of a game is mostly dependent on the two teams playing each other. Based on for example the ranking in the previous seasons or popularity of the teams, the attractiveness for the supporters and consequentially the broadcasters can be identified (Briskorn & Drexl, 2009).

Complementary constraints When two teams i and j must have a complementary home-away patters, team i must play a home game if team j is scheduled to play an away game, and vice versa (Schaerf, 1999). This occurs when two teams share the same stadium, so two home games in the same round are not possible. For example, in the Italian Football League, no more than two teams are located in each town but at most one stadium is available. These multiple complementary sets of teams are hard constraints that must be taken into account when setting up the schedule (Della Croce & Oliveri, 2006).

Sometimes there are interdependencies with other leagues. In Germany, the schedules for the ‘1. Fußballbundesliga’ and the ‘2. Fußballbundesliga’ cannot be determined independent from each other. For two teams in the same city with a team playing in the first division and the other playing in the lower division, the home-away patterns of these teams must be complementary. The schedule of the first division is determined first and then the schedule of the second division must take the resulting home-away patterns for the complementary first division teams into account (Bartsch, Drexl, & Kröger, 2006).

2.4.3. Fairness Constraints

Break constraints Since the pattern of home and away games of the teams has an important influence on the fatigue and number of visitors, there can be special requirements for these patterns in the tournament. As mentioned above, when assigning the home-away pattern a minimization of breaks can be an objective for the overall schedule. However, several other constraints concerning the breaks are often used in practice to ensure a fairer schedule for each team.

Instead of minimizing the total number of breaks, a fixed number of breaks being assigned to each team can be preferred for fairness reasons. In a single round-robin tournament for example, scheduling exactly one break for each team can be viewed as a fairer approach (Briskorn & Drexl, 2009).

Limitations on the number of consecutive breaks or particular sequences of home and away games that should be avoided are common. For example, more than two consecutive home or away games are to be avoided, often by hard constraints. In leagues with an uneven number of teams, no more than three home (away) matches or byes in a row can be forbidden (Martin, 2002).

A beginning constraint states that each team must have a home and an away game in the first two rounds of the tournament. Similarly, an ending constraint assigns a home and away game in the last two rounds of the tournament (Rasmussen, 2008). These constraints can be summarized by stating that no team is allowed to have a break in the second and last round of the tournament. The aim of these constraints is to prevent distortions of the competition (Bartsch, Drexl, & Kröger, 2006).

Separation constraints In a non-mirrored k round-robin tournament with k≥2, a lower bound is often imposed on the number of rounds between the games of each pair of teams, to avoid that the k games are scheduled in a short time span. For example, in Austria, teams that play each other in round 17 or 18 (first half of the tournament), cannot have their second match before round 20 or 21 (second half of the tournament). In other words, at least 2 rounds must be in between the two games of each pair of teams. (Bartsch, Drexl, & Kröger, 2006). This is not relevant for mirrored schedules since there are at least n-2 rounds between the games against the same opponent.

Top team and bottom team constraints Besides the carry-over effect, other constraints concerning the strength of the teams are taken into account when scheduling tournaments. For example, in the Italian first division of football (Serie A), the top teams from the previous season are considered as seeded teams. No matches between these teams may occur in the first and last three rounds of the tournament. This is to make sure that no team has an advantage over the other teams in the beginning and in the decisive final weeks of the season (Della Croce & Oliveri, 2006). Generally, it is preferred that games against tough and weak opponents are evenly distributed over the whole tournament for each team (Briskorn & Drexl, 2009). For the German football league, the 18 teams are evenly distributed in three strength groups based on the results of the previous season. The schedule makes sure that no team must play matches against opponents from the same strength group on consecutive rounds (Bartsch, Drexl, & Kröger, 2006).

2.5. Solution Methods

2.5.1. Decomposition Tournament scheduling problems are often solved by decomposing them into subproblems which are then solved one after the other by using various exact or heuristic algorithms. Most commonly a combination of integer and constraint programming or heuristic methods is used to solve the subproblems.

Mainly, there are two approaches that are used for decomposition depending on the problem setting:

1. “First-schedule, then-break” (Kendall, Knust, Ribeiro, & Urrutia, 2010): At first the team pairings for each round are determined, so which teams have a match against each other on each round. This scheduling phase is then followed by calculating the assignment of home-away patterns for the matches resulting from the first step.

This first approach is preferred when there are important requirements for the tournament that have nothing to do with the home-away pattern. Some examples are attractiveness constraints, a number of predefined fixed matches or a reduction in carry-over effects (Trick, 2001).

Trick (2001) solved the first phase by using two different constraint programming approaches. Both the approaches were able to find opponent schedules fairly quickly for single round-robin tournaments up to 20 teams. Adding the requirement to spread the carry-over effects as evenly as possible over the teams made the problem more difficult and the run times increased substantially for 10 teams.

The objective when assigning the home-away patterns in the second stage is often to have the smallest possible number of breaks. In the first phase, Brouwer, Post, & Woeginger (2008) generate an opponenent schedule for an even number of teams n by fixing n/2 matches in every round (n-1 rounds). For the calculated opponent schedule they then try to find the home- away assignment with a minimization of the breaks. For this second phase, Trick M. A. (2001) used an integer programming formulation and was able to solve instances up to 20 teams in relatively low computation times.

2. “First-break, then schedule” (Kendall et al., 2010): First the home-away pattern for each team is set-up, often with the goal to minimize breaks. Afterwards, the pairings of teams are fixed corresponding to the determined home-away pattern. Placeholders might be used to establish the pairings which are then assigned to the actual teams.

This approach is used for scheduling the Danish triple round-robin tournament by decomposing the problem in four steps. In the first step the home-away patterns are generated to find the best pattern with regards to the number of breaks. In step 2 the teams are assigned to the patterns by solving an integer programming problem. The third step checks if the patterns are feasible. Several feasibility checks are used to find why a pattern set is not feasible. If a feasible pattern set is found, the last step will determine the timetable (Rasmussen, 2008).

2.5.2. Integer Programming Several round-robin tournament schedules have been generated by setting up an integer program model and using a solver to find a solution. As mentioned above, integer programming is often used in decomposition to solve one or more of the subproblems, sometimes combined with other solution methods (constraint programming, heuristics, etc..). Common integer programming methods used in real life or theoretical sport scheduling problems are branch and bound, branch and cut, column generation and Benders decomposition (Kendall et al., 2010).

2.5.2.1. General model Since integer programming models are often used in practice to solve real life scheduling problems with the same characteristics, several authors like Trick, (2003) and Briskorn & Drexl (2009) developed base models that serve as a starting point for more complicated round-robin scheduling problems.

Basic Model The basic elements in this general model for k round-robin tournaments are as follows:

The binary decision variable for a model with n teams T and k(n-1) rounds R is:

ퟏ, 풊풇 풕풆풂풎 풊 풑풍풂풚풔 풂 풉풐풎풆 품풂풎풆 풂품풂풊풏풔풕 풕풆풂풎 풋 풊풏 풓풐풖풏풅 풓 풙 = 풊,풋,풓 ퟎ, 풐풕풉풆풓풘풊풔풆

for teams i,j=1,..,n with i ≠ j and rounds r=1,.., k(n-1).

The two following basic constraints assure that each team meets every other team exactly k times over the tournament and that each team plays exactly one match per round, respectively:

∑풓∈푹풙풊,풋,풓 + 풙풋,풊,풓 = 풌 ∀풊, 풋 ∈ 푻, 풊 ≠ 풋

∑풋∈푻\{풊}풙풊,풋,풓 + 풙풋,풊,풓 = ퟏ ∀ 풊 ∈ 푻, 풓 ∈ 푹

General objective function Since the integer programming models use objective functions to represent the goal they want to achieve, a cost minimization function is used as a general objective function for various problems:

The general cost objective function aims to minimize/maximize the summation of the total cost:

min/max ∑∑풊∈푻 풋∈푻\{풊} ∑풓∈푹 풄풊,풋,풓 풙풊,풋,풓

The cost ci,j,r is an abstract concept but can be used to represent various real-world requirements. For example, the preference for teams to play at home on certain rounds, the economic value of attendance on certain rounds in a maximization approach, etc.

Break constraints The most common goal concerning the home-away patterns is a minimization of the number of breaks. Additional constraints with the following elements are used to represent this in the basic integer programming model:

An additional binary decision variable to represent the breaks:

ퟏ, 풊풇 풕풆풂풎 풊 풉풂풔 풂 풃풓풆풂풌 풊풏 풓풐풖풏풅 풓 풃풓 = 풊,풓 ퟎ, 풐풕풉풆풓풘풊풔풆

for teams i=1,..,n and rounds r = 2,.., k(n-1).

Two additional constraints that force the decision variable bri,r to be equal to 1 if team i has a home or away-break on round r, respectively. Note that r starts from round 2 (R≥2) as a break in the first round is not possible:

ퟐ ∑풋∈푻\{풊}(풙풊,풋,풓ퟏ + 풙풊,풋,풓)− 풃풓풊,풓 ≤ ퟏ ∀ 풊 ∈ 푻, 풓 ∈ 푹

ퟐ ∑풋∈푻\{풊}(풙풋,풊,풓ퟏ + 풙풋,풊,풓)− 풃풓풊,풓 ≤ ퟏ ∀ 풊 ∈ 푻, 풓 ∈ 푹

A third constraint that limits the total number of breaks by all teams to a specified bound:

∑풊∈푻 ∑풓∈푹ퟐ 풃풓풊,풓 ≤ 풎풂풙풃풓풆풂풌풔

The limit on the number of breaks (maxbreaks) depends on the characteristics of the round-robin tournament. For a single round-robin tournament, the max breaks allowed should be n-2 to achieve a minimization of the breaks. For non-mirrored or mirrored double round-robin tournament a minimization is achieved by setting maxbreaks to 2n-4 or 3n-6, respectively (de Werra D. , 1981).

A fairer approach regarding the minimization of breaks is included in the general model presented by Briskorn & Drexl (2009). Instead of limiting the total number of breaks by all teams, each team can only have a limited number of breaks. The number of breaks for each team is the sum of their home and away-breaks. The approach uses the following elements:

Two additional binary decision variables that represent the home and away breaks:

ퟏ, 풊풇 풕풆풂풎 풊 풉풂풔 풂 풉풐풎풆 풃풓풆풂풌 풊풏 풓풐풖풏풅 풓 풉풃풓 = 풊,풓 ퟎ, 풐풕풉풆풓풘풊풔풆

ퟏ, 풊풇 풕풆풂풎 풊 풉풂풔 풂풏 풂풘풂풚 풃풓풆풂풌 풊풏 풓풐풖풏풅 풓 풂풃풓 = 풊,풓 ퟎ, 풐풕풉풆풓풘풊풔풆

with hbri,r, abri,r ∈ {0,1}, for teams i=1,..,n and rounds r = 2,.., k(n-1).

An auxiliary constraint that forces hbri,r and abri,r to be equal to 1 when team i has a home or away break on round r:

ퟐ ∑풋∈푻\{풊}(풙풋,풊,풓ퟏ + 풙풋,풊,풓)+ 풉풃풓풊,풓 − 풂풃풓풊,풓 = ퟏ ∀ 풊 ∈ 푻, 풓 ∈ 푹

And a second constraint that limits the number of breaks for each team to a specified value:

∑풓∈푹ퟐ풉풃풓풊,풓 + 풂풃풓풊,풓 ≤ 풔풑풆풄풃풓풆풂풌풔 ∀ 풊 ∈ 푻

The specified number of breaks for each team (specbreaks) must be specified beforehand. For a single round tournament, having at most one break for each of the n teams assures a fairer schedule while keeping the total number of breaks close to the absolute minimum (n-2). It is also possible to assign a fixed number of breaks to each team by changing the constraint into an equality. This assures that no team has less breaks than any other team and makes the schedule even fairer. For example, the number of breaks per team in a mirrored double round-robin tournament can be set to ⌈(3n − 6)/n⌉, so that the fairness is guaranteed with a minimum number of breaks. For a tournament with 16 teams, specbreaks will have a value of 3.

2.5.2.2. Practical applications Several practical tournaments have utilized integer programming models to represent and/or solve their scheduling problems. For example, Nemhauser & Trick (1998) used integer programming combined with enumeration techniques to schedule the basketball tournament in the Antlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in the United States. The basketball teams from the nine universities in the ACC play a double round-robin tournament, with both a home and away game against every other team. Two rounds are played every week, generaly on Wednesday and Saturday. Every round, four games are scheduled and one team has a bye because there is an odd number of teams. This means that the tournament is played in 18 rounds, with each team having 8 home games, 8 away games and 2 bye rounds. Four games of both the home and away games must be scheduled on weekend rounds. This guarentees a fairer schedule since weekend rounds are valued higher than midweek rounds. In addition to this, some other constraints were included concerning the breaks, separation of games between two teams, opponent strengths, team requirements, etc.

The algorithm used by Nemhauser & Trick consists of three steps:

Step 1: Find Patterns and Pattern Sets

First, almost-mirrored home-away patterns were generated by using enumeration, resulting in 38 feasible patterns. Integer programming was then used to find sets of nine patterns that had a fair chance to result in feasible timetables. 17 of these pattern sets were found by the integer program.

Step 2: Finding Timetables

The games were assigned for the given patterns sets, again by using integer programming. This lead to 826 feasible timetables.

Step 3: Assigning Teams to Patterns

For the last step, the actual teams must be assigned to the patterns sets in the feasible timetables. This time-consuming step was also done by enumeration. Again, 17 feasible schedules were found. From these, three were selected and submitted to the ACC, that chose one of these as the official schedule.

Other examples where integer programming was used, include the scheduling of the German and Austrian football league (Bartsch, Drexl, & Kröger, 2006), the Italian football league (Della Croce & Oliveri, 2006), the Belgian football league (Goossens & Spieksma, 2009), the Danish football league (Rasmussen, 2008), etc.

Minimizing travelling distance for English football fans For minimizing the travelling distance in the English football league over the Christmas period, Kendall & Westphal (2013) also used an integer programming model for their one-phase approach to find the solution. The model has the following elements:

The objective function in this model represents the goal to minimize the overall distance for all teams in all divisions over the two or four matches scheduled during the special holiday period:

퐦퐢퐧 ∑ ∑ ∑ 푫 풙 + ∑ ∑ ퟎ. ퟎퟏ풚 풉∈푯 풊,풋 ∈푻풍 풍∈푳 풊,풋 풊,풋,풉 풉∈푯 {풊,풋}∈푷 풊,풋,풉

H = {1,2} or {1,2,3,4} represents the set of rounds in the holiday period that are scheduled. The set L contains the four divisions (FA Premiership, FL Championship, FL Championship

1 and FL Championship 2) in the English football league. T is the set of 92 teams, with TL equal to 20 teams for the first division and 24 teams for the other divisions. The decision

variable xi,j,h is 1 if team i plays a home game against team j on round h. The parameter Di,j indicates the distance between team i and j.

The second part of the objective function is used to make sure that the decision variable yi,j,h is equal to 1 if paired teams i and j both have a home game on the same round h. The set P contains the teams that are paired.

The same basic constraint as in the basic model proposed by Briskorn & Drexl (2009) is used to make sure that each team in every division plays exactly one match per round:

∑ 풋∈푻풍\{풊}(풙풊,풋,풉 + 풙풋,풊,풉)= ퟏ ∀ 풍 ∈ 푳, 풊 ∈ 푻풍, 풉 ∈ 푯

The other basic constraint is slightly different since only 2 or 4 rounds from the total tournament are scheduled. Instead of setting the number of matches between each pair of teams equal to k (over the whole season in a k round-robin tournament), each team can have at most one game with another team during the holiday rounds H.

∑풉∈푯(풙풊,풋,풉 + 풙풋,풊,풉) ≤ ퟏ ∀ 풍 ∈ 푳, 풊, 풋 ∈ 푻풍

Additional constraints are used to model the specific requirements of the English football league and its stakeholders:

 Teams that are in the same set of paired teams P are not allowed to have a match against each other:

풙풊,풋,풉 = ퟎ ∀ 풉 ∈ 푯, 풍 ∈ 푳, {풊, 풋} ∈(푻풍 × 푻풍) ∩ 푷

 The travelling distance for teams in division l is not allowed to be more than δl on any of the rounds of the Chrismas period:

풙풊,풋,풉 = ퟎ ∀ 풉 ∈ 푯, 풍 ∈ 푳, 풊, 풋 ∈ 푻풍: 푫풊,풋 > 휹풍

 First, an auxiliary constraint sets decision variable zi,h equal to 1 if team i has a home game on round h. The second constraint makes sure that each team plays exactly one home and one away game in two consecutive rounds:

∑ 풋∈푻풍\{풊} 풙풊,풋,풉 = 풛풊,풉 ∀ 풍 ∈ 푳, 풊 ∈ 푻풍, 풉 ∈ 푯

풛풊,풉 + 풛풊,풉ퟏ = ퟏ ∀ 풍 ∈ 푳, 풊 ∈ 푻풍, 풉 ∈ 푯

 The first constraint together with the second part of the objective function make

sure that yi,j,h is only equal to 1 when both paired teams i and j play at home on round h. The number of paired teams playing both at home on a single round must then be limited to at most β.

풉풊,풋 + 풉풋,풉 ≤ ퟏ + 풚풊,풋,풉 ∀ 풉 ∈ 푯, {풊, 풋} ∈ 푷

∑풉∈푯 ∑{풊,풋}∈푷 풚풊,풋,풅 ≤ 휷  Three constraints are used to limit the number of home games by teams in

Greater Manchester (Mi), teams in London (Li) and London-based Premiership

(LPi) teams on each of the holiday rounds:

∑풊∈푻 푴풊풉풊,풉 ≤ 흈푴 ∀ 풉 ∈ 푯

∑풊∈푻 푳풊풉풊,풉 ≤ 흈푳 ∀ 풉 ∈ 푯

∑풊∈푻 푳푷풊풉풊,풉 ≤ 흈푳푷 ∀ 풉 ∈ 푯

Three different scenarios are used concerning the limit in travelling distance δl. Scenario 1 sets no limit on δl for all four divisions. This makes sure that the total overall distance is minimized. However, it’s possible that some teams have a far greater travelling distance compared to others. Scenario

2 sets a global limit δl that is equal for all four divisions. This eliminates some of the excessive distances for individual teams but slightly increases the total overall distance compared to solution found in scenario 1. Another weakness of scenario 2 is that too much freedom can be given to the individual divisions by only setting a global limit. Therefore scenario 3 is used to set a different limit

δl for each of the divisions based on the distance matrices. Excessive individual distances in each of the divisions might be eliminated this way.

For each of the scenarios, both the 2 and 4 round cases are solved for the 7 seasons running from 2002 till 2009. Solving the various instances of the model in CPLEX allowed Kendall & Westphal to find schedules for the different scenarios. For the 2-round cases, solutions with a gap of 1% from the lower were found by letting the model run for 7200 seconds. The gap for the 4-round case ranged from 11% till 19% with a runtime of 7200 seconds.

The model produced solutions with a travelling distance lower than the actual used schedules. Kendall & Westphal suggested that the third scenario with an individual distance limit for each division would be most appropriate to use in practice, even if it results in a slightly higher total overall traveling distance. The solutions will probably be viewed as fairer by the teams and their fans.

2.5.3. Constraint programming With constraint programming the problem is modelled with inter-related variables and constraints that allow to identify feasible solutions out a large set of candidates. The variables have a finite domain of possible values which they can adopt in different solutions. Variables are fixed and new constraints are derived by changing the original variable domains and sets of constraints. The solutions are based on feasibility instead of finding an optimum. This is done by focusing on the variables and constraints rather than the objective function, which is not always necessary on constraint programming problems. Kendall et al. (2010) posed the following five questions that must typically be resolved to define a constraint satisfaction problem:

 Which variables are used to model the problem?  Which values are those variables allowed to take?  What are the constraints of the problem?  What are the relationships between the variables so that only valid solutions are allowed once all the variables have been instantiated?  How can decisions be propagated in order to derive new constraints?

Constraint programming is often used in practice as well. Martin (2002) revisited the scheduling problem of the Atlantic Coast Conference that had already been solved by using integer programming. He proposed finite-domain constraint programming to find a feasible schedule. This method found 179 solutions in less then a minute, whereas the combination of enumeration and integer programming had a total runtime around 24 hours. The comparison between integer and constraint programming methods to tackle round-robin tournament problems is done in a research by Trick (2003), with the latter often being faster. However, integer programming is preferred when there is an objective function in the model. So, depending on the characteristics of the problem, one of two approaches can serve as the favored solution method.

2.5.4. Metaheuristic Sport scheduling problems are getting more complex with more and more requirements. This makes them computational very hard and no polynomial-time algorithms might exist to solve them. When the integer or constraint programming methods are not able to find an exact solution within a reasonable time, approximation algorithms or heuristics are used in practise to find sub-optimal solutions in acceptable computation times. Heuristic methods applied in previous research are for example Algorithm A* (Hart, Nilsson, & Raphael B, 1968), Local Search (Aarts, Korst, & Michiels, 2007), Tabu Search (Glover & Laguna, 1997), Simulated Annealing (Aarst, Korst, & Michiels,

2005), Genetic Algorithms (Goldberg, 1989) and others. Metaheuristics have the possibility to offer the most effective solution strategies for complex optimization problems, with the best results found by hybrid methods where different metaheuristic principles are combined.

Practical examples where metaheuristics are used include the scheduling of the Australian cricket league with simulated annealing (Willis & Terrill, 1994), the English county cricket league with tabu search (Wright, 1994), the referee assignment in sports leagues using a hybrid ILS (iterated local search) heuristic (Duarte, Ribeiro, & Urrutia, 2007), etc.

3. Belgian Pro League Football

3.1. Introduction & league format The highest division of football in Belgium was founded in 1895 by the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA). Since 1974, the organisation of the tournament is in the hands of the Belgian Pro League. This federation was created to protect the interest of the professional teams.

The composition of the professional football league in Belgium has been drastically changed since the 2016-2017 season. On June 15th, 2015 the Pro League agreed with the propositions of the RBFA to increase the number of professional teams from 16 to 24 and to rearrange the format (Weyters, 2015). The goal was to increase the level of the Belgian teams, so they perform better in international competitions (Champions League and Europa League), to receive more money by selling more attractive TV broadcasting rights and attract more visitors and better sponsorship deals

So currently, the Belgian Pro League is responsible for the organisation of the two highest divisions of professional football in Belgium. The first division (1A), better known as the Jupiler Pro League, is played with 16 teams. The second division (1B), also known as the Proximus league, consists of 8 teams. They both play a regular stage that is followed by a post-competition, the so-called play- offs. The focus in this study is the Jupiler Pro League, so only this division is explained in detail.

The season is played from late July to early May and depending on their performance, the teams play between 30 and 42 games. The regular stage in 1A is a non-mirrored double round-robin tournament, with a compact schedule containing a total of 240 matches played in 30 rounds. The six best teams of the regular season are included in Play-Off 1. Here they play another double round-robin tournament for the league title and qualification for the (qualifying rounds of the) Champions League and Europa League. The teams in play-off 1 start with half of the points they won during the regular stage. Play-off 2 is played in two competitions both consisting of 6 teams. The teams are selected from 1A and 1B based on their placement during the regular stage. They play for access to the qualifying stages of the Europa League. As opposed to play-off 1, the points collected during the regular season are not taken into account and all the teams start with 0 points. The team that finished last in the regular tournament has no additional matches and is relegated to the Proximus League in the next season (Goossens D. , 2018).

3.2. Stakeholders Football is not only very popular for the fans and spectators but has become more and more important as a business. According to a study by Deloitte (2018), Belgian football contributed €669 million to the Belgian economy in the 2016-2017 season. The economic growth of the Belgian professional football is also twice as fast compared to similar European countries (Denmark, Sweden, Netherlands, Portugal and Austria) based on size, amount of citizen and GDP. There are different stakeholders that want a piece of this economic growth and want to see their own interests represented in the schedule of the Jupiler Pro League tournament. Goossens (2018) listed the following 4 stakeholders that are most articulate to see their preferences met:

3.2.1. The Belgian Pro League As mentioned before, the Pro League is the organisation responsible for the planning of the Jupiler Pro League tournament. It is a non-profit organisation, so the economic results are less important for them. Their main task is deciding how to organise the competition and setting up the schedule. The Pro League ‘wants to be a strong dynamic league with an efficient decision process, carried out by a team that is independent of the clubs, but is at the service of them’ (Pro League, sd). So, when setting up the schedule, a schedule manager listens to the clubs and the various other stakeholders and tries to gather information about their specific wishes and requirements, and the relative importance of these requests.

The most important responsibility is to guarantee a competition that is fair for all the teams. Fairness is closely related to breaks. To avoid advantages or disadvantages in the start or end of the season, no team should have two consecutive home or away games in the first and last two rounds of the tournament. Since teams can see consecutive away games as a negative influence on performance, these must be limited to two. The Pro League strives to minimize the overall number of breaks while distributing them evenly over the teams.

Because of the reform of the competition, the total number of rounds in the season has increased, and midweek rounds are a necessity. Midweek rounds have a negative impact on stadium attendance and catering revenue, so teams want to avoid midweek home games (Forrest , 2006). Therefore, the Pro League balances the home and away games for midweek rounds: a team cannot play two home (or away) games on two following midweek rounds. These midweek rounds are not necessarily scheduled on consecutive weeks.

To establish a fair schedule, carry-over effects are preferably avoided. Even though it is revealed by Goossens & Spieksma (2012) that carry-over effects have a negligible impact on the outcome and goal difference in Belgium’s first division, the Pro League still wants to take some measures to reduce them.

The final concern for the Pro League is balancing the beginning of the season for each team. This is done by evenly distributing the strength of the opponents for each team, so none of them faces an unreasonable amount of strong or weak teams.

3.2.2. The TV broadcasters Since the negotiations of the renewed broadcasting rights in May 2017, the Pro League receives around €80 million per year until the 2019-2020 season. Proximus, Telenet and Voo are the main companies that show live football in Belgium (Nuyens, 2017). These broadcasting companies want to see a return on their investment in the broadcasting rights by selling as much viewing passes and memberships as possible. To attract more viewers, each broadcasting company has its requests and preferences concerning the tournament schedule.

The main match characteristics that have an influence on TV viewership are the month and kick- off time on which the game is scheduled and the strength of the opponent. An online survey conducted by Wang, Chang, Goossens & Vandebroek (2018) revealed the preferred scheduling options for the Belgian soccer fans and the influence on the viewership. On average, the following kick-off times are disliked by the fans: Wednesday 20:30, Saturday 18:00, Sunday 14:30 and Sunday 20:30. Even though there is some diversity in individual preferences, midweek matches must be kept to a minimum. Because of the large number of rounds played, midweek matched are unavoidable and is was revealed that they are preferably scheduled in October or March. These months have a smaller loss of viewers for midweek matches. The survey also shows that matches against top teams are preferred by the fans, that fans show a small negative preference for matches against average opponents and they have no interest for matches against lower level teams.

It is possible to optimize the schedule and increase viewership by using the model based on the results of the survey. Audience ratings can be predicted based on the planned month, kick-off time and match type.

3.2.3. The police and the taxpayer In the 2018-2019 season, 2.8 million visitors attended matches of the Belgian first division. With averages ranging from 2.894 fans per match for KAS Eupen to 25.481 for matches of Club Brugge KV (Transfermarkt, 2019), each team and their respective local police departments will have varying demands to guarantee the security for all spectators. Matches that have previously shown an increase in risk of fights between fans of rivalling teams and other forms of hooliganism are labelled risk matches. For these matches, there will be increased numbers of police available in and around the stadium. In extreme cases, the mayor of the home team’s city has the possibility to call off a match when the risk for the public order and safety is too large.

To offer the police departments the time and possibility to take the necessary safety measures, they are questioned months before the season start to voice their requests and concerns. The biggest concerns are risk matches and avoiding an overlap with other big events in the city. Other requests range from the kick-off times to the impact of matches on traffic on certain times and dates. In some cases, a police zone contains the venue of two teams (e.g. Club Brugge KV & Cercle Brugge KSV) and extra attention for the schedule is needed. It is preferred that two teams from the same police zone do not have a home game in the same round, definitely not two games with increased security risks (Goossens D. , 2018).

The costs for the deployment of police forces during football matches is paid by the taxpayers. According to an article in ‘Het Nieuwsblad’ (Vanderaspoilden & Gyssels, 2019), these costs have risen to €11 million even though hooliganism and violence in the context of football have decreased. It is in the taxpayers’ interest to reduce these costs with a schedule that offers the best cost reducing possibilities, combined with extra efforts from mayors and police chefs to avoid unnecessary expenses.

3.2.4. The clubs and their fans Clubs have a variety of wishes and preferences concerning the schedule with both financial and sporting goals. To increase their chance on a good start of the competition and so possibly a good season, clubs favour a home game against a relatively weak opponent.

Participants of international competitions (Champions League and Europa League) have a strong preference for home games after their midweek European match. They believe that this will reduce the negative impact on fatigue caused by the extra match and the travel distance.

Various other reasons are possible for clubs to prefer home or away matches in specific rounds, for example, cash flow problems or stadium renovations (Goossens D. , 2018).

Fans are influenced by various factors when deciding to attend a football game or not. There are more factors that influence these decisions compared to watching a game on TV: travelling distance, ticket availability, weather, safety, etc. Not all of these can be influenced by the schedule so we focus on those that can. Attendance is negatively impacted by consecutive home games. This is again a motivation to minimize breaks in the schedule. Matches in January are least appealing for the fans. Games in August see the positive influence of the good weather neutralized by the holiday plans of many fans. The worst hours of kick-off with respect to stadium attendance are Sunday 20:30 and Wednesday 20:30. Saturday evening and Sunday 14:30 and 18:00 are the preferred kick-off times for the fans (Wang, Chang, Goossens, & Vandebroek, 2018).

3.3. Scheduling Methods Up until the 2005-2006 season, the tournament schedule was constructed manually by using a basic match schedule (BMS) as a starting point. This BMS gives the home-away patterns for each team and their opponents, while satisfying the mirroring constraint with a minimum number of breaks. Table 3-1 represents the BMS for the first five rounds, that has been used for several decades to schedule the Belgian football league. For example, team 1 plays a home game against team 3 in the first round and an away game against team 5 in the second round.

Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 1-3 2-4 1-7 2-8 1-11 4-17 3-18 3-5 4-6 3-9 6-15 5-1 6-2 5-18 5-7 8-13 7-16 8-17 7-3 8-4 10-11 9-14 10-15 9-1 10-2 12-9 11-12 12-13 11-16 12-17 14-7 13-10 14-11 13-14 14-15 16-5 15-8 16-9 15-12 16-13 18-2 17-6 18-4 17-10 18-6 Table 3-1: Basic Match Schedule

Teams had to be assigned to one of the 18 placeholders in the basic match schedule. This schedule was then improved by swapping the assignment of team pairings, with the goal to satisfy more constraints. This was all done by hand with the aid of an excel sheet and could take a week to complete. The resulting schedule only satisfied few of the proposed constraints, with minimal attention for the wishes from the teams and TV broadcasters. Substantial improvements could be made so that all the requirements were considered.

An improved scheduling method was introduced by Goossens & Spieksma (2009) for the 2006- 2007 season. All the teams, TV broadcasters and other stakeholders were questioned about their wishes and requirements for the tournament schedule. As a result, a lot of constraints had to be considered and it turned out to be impossible to satisfy them all as some of them were conflicting. Therefore, the constraints were categorized into five priority levels in collaboration with the calendar committee. The most important constraints were the physical impossibilities (teams sharing a stadium, stadium unavailability, etc.). The second priority level contained the wishes from local governments and police forces. Wishes from teams and TV broadcasters were assigned to one of the three remaining levels. A penalty was attached to each of the levels, that was incurred if a constraint with a certain priority level was violated. A mixed integer programming automated the assignment of teams to the placeholders in the BMS. The goal was to find a schedule that minimized the total weighted penalty cost of all violated constraints. The resulting schedule was accepted by the calendar committee and used for the actual 2006-2007 season.

Continuous improvements were made by Goossens (2018) in the following years. More constraints were imposed by the stakeholders which made the scheduling problem more difficult and new methods and approaches were needed. First, a two-phased ‘first-break, then-schedule’ approach was utilized. The teams were assigned to a home-away pattern from the BMS followed by an allocation of opponents, given the patterns. Both steps were done by using integer programming with the same objective function to minimize the total weighted cost of violated constraints. Improvements were then implemented around the first phase by using a tabu search algorithm.

As the requirements from stakeholders kept coming, no feasible solutions could be found within the current solution space. This led to a shift from a mirrored to a non-mirrored schedule after convincing the Pro League of the benefits.

With the introduction in the 2009-2010 season of the new tournament format with play-offs, the scheduling process was again improved. The several play-off stages were scheduled simultaneously by relatively simple integer programming models.

The last improvement was made by stepping away from the home-away patterns of the basic match schedule. By doing so, the search space greatly increased and improved solutions were found.

Part 2: Case Study: Distance Minimization in the Jupiler Pro League

4. Problem Description

4.1. Introduction The regular stage of the Belgian First Division football is played from the end of July till mid-March, with a 3-week winter break after Christmas. The various play-off stages are then scheduled from the end of March until late May. Thus, rounds are played almost during the whole year, in all four seasons and possibly on various holidays: the 1st & 11th of November, Christmas, Easter and the 1st of May. This all has an influence on the stadium attendance and number of TV viewers.

In the survey by Wang et al., (2018) to discover the fans’ preferences with respect to stadium attendance and TV viewership, the effects of scheduling options were revealed. For stadium attendance, it was shown that the fans dislike matches in January, likely because of the cold, and have a stronger preference for matches scheduled in March, as the weather gets nicer and the competition gets into the deciding phase. Matches against top opponents have a stronger attractiveness to fans compared to lower or middle level opponents. When comparing the results of the survey with the actual stadium attendance data, the correlation turned out to be moderate. This is because only three factors are included in the survey (Month, Kick-off time and Opponent strength) and in practice there are many more factors that have an influence on the decision whether a fan will travel to the stadium, like for example the travelling distance.

The clubs want to see these negative influences of the schedule on the stadium attendance minimized. Especially the negative influence of cold and bad weather in the winter can possibly be lowered by adjusting the schedule. With the possibility of ice and snow, the roads are more dangerous and going outside is less pleasant. Therefore, fans are less likely to travel a long distance to see their favourite team play, especially distant away games against a less appealing opponent.

Since the Jupiler Pro League is a double round-robin tournament, the total travelling distance over the whole season is fixed and the minimization of travel distance as an overall objective when setting up the scheduling model is pointless. However, adding constraints that limit the distance travelled in certain special periods can offer solutions to the negative scheduling effects on attendance. In the 2018-2019 season, five rounds were scheduled in December with one round being played on the two days after Christmas (26th & 27th of December). After the winter break, two more round are played at the end of January. Because December and January are the coldest months in Belgium with the least amount of daylight and the possibility of snowfall (KMI, sd),

changing the schedule and lowering the travel distance in these months might positively influence the willingness of fans to go on an away trip with their favourite team. The end of December is also the period of the year where having parties and dinners with family and friends is important to a lot of people, so it can be assumed that the fans would rather spend some more time with their loved ones than having to travel a long distance to see their team play. Some players of teams in the Belgian first division even complained on social media about having to play football on the days after Christmas, stating that it is a time of tradition to spend with family (Van Hoofstat, 2014).

I will investigate if it is possible to generate a schedule that minimizes the total travelling distance by all the teams in certain rounds during the winter period. In line with the study by Kendall & Westphal (2013) who tried to minimize the travelling distance during Holiday Periods in England, I will consider the minimization of a special period of both 2 rounds and 4 rounds. However, they only scheduled the special periods without looking if a feasible schedule could be found for the other rounds in the tournament as well. Therefore, all 30 rounds necessary in the Belgian football tournament are considered in this research, with a distance minimization only for the special periods. Another difference is that Kendall & Westphal scheduled four divisions simultaneously as the requirements of each of the divisions had to be taken into account to schedule every other division. This is not case here, as only the Jupiler Pro League is considered.

Comparing the distances over the special periods in the new schedules with the schedules being used in practice will show if it useful to add the distance minimization in the model.

4.2. Solution Method To solve this problem, I will use an integer linear programming model. The mathematical formulation of the integer model is presented in part 5. This model is set up to allow a single-phase simulation to find feasible tournament schedules for the Jupiler Pro League, while simultaneously minimizing the travelling distance during the special period.

The elements of the model are first discussed more in detail. The objective function represents the goal to minimize the travelling distance in the special period. This is done for the 2-rounds and 4- rounds approach. For the minimization of 2 rounds, the round played a week before Christmas and the round played on the days after Christmas will be considered. For the three seasons under review (2016-2017, 2017-2018 & 2018-2019), these are rounds 20 and 21. The rounds considered in the 4 rounds approach are the same two rounds in December and the two following rounds in January, rounds 22 and 23 for all three seasons.

Because the survey by Wang et al. (2018) has shown that January is least preferred by the fans to attend the stadium, a minimization of the travelling distance for those rounds might have a positive influence on the attendance.

In section 4.3 the constraints that will be incorporated in the model are discussed. The data necessary for the model and the comparison of the schedules is discussed in the next section.

The different approaches to have a fairer distribution of the travelling distances between the teams are explained in section 4.5. A solution with a higher than minimum travelling distance might be preferred because solely minimizing the distance travelled by all the teams might lead to some teams having to travel a lot less than other teams. If the distances of the individual teams are closer to each other it is assured that no team has a too big advantage over other teams.

4.3. Constraints Not all the constraints that are actually used in the planning of the Jupiler Pro League are included because detailed information about all specific wishes from the stakeholders could not be found in the literature. The ones that are used in the model represent the more important structural, external and fairness requirements that are used for the schedules in practice.

Structural constraints The structural constraints make sure that the schedule follows the basic specifications that have been defined by the Pro League.

Since the regular stage of the Jupiler Pro League is a played in double round-robin tournament, each team must have two matches against every other team, one in each half of the season. It is required that one of these is played at home and one at the opponents’ venue. The tournament is non-mirrored, so the team pairings are not identical in both halves of the season. To avoid that the two games of a pair are scheduled to close to each other, I require a gap of at least 5 rounds between these two games. Note that this gap is personal decision on what I think is acceptable, as no specific value is found in the literature.

The tournament is compact/temporally constrained, so the number of necessary rounds is minimal and equal to 2(n-1). This means that each of the 16 teams must have exactly one home or away game in each of the 30 rounds.

External constraints The several stakeholders mentioned above have their own requirements that they want to see represented in the schedule. It was not possible to find all these individual wishes, so the most important ones I could find in the literature and in the actual schedules are included in the model.

Club Brugge and Cercle Brugge share the same stadium, so their home-away patterns must be complementary. So, when Club Brugge has a home game on a certain round Cercle Brugge must have an away game that same round, and vice versa.

A special request from the tv-broadcasters is to schedule specified rounds with a fixed number (usually 2) of attractive matches. The rounds that are selected vary each season. Generally, the 2 attractive matches are played on Sunday and they form the so-called ‘Super Sunday’ round. This allows the broadcasters to sell an increased number of viewing passes. The attractive matches are defined as matches between five teams, also called the ‘G5’, that have showed the best results over the past five seasons: RSC Anderlecht, Club Brugge KV, KAA Gent, Racing Genk and Standard de Liège (Sluismans & Dejaeger, 2019). I will assume that these five teams remain the same over the three seasons under review.

Fairness constraints It is in every stakeholder’s interest to have a fair tournament. The most important fairness issues are concerning the breaks. To have a fair start and end of the season, no breaks are allowed in the second and last round of the season. This means that each team must have a home and away game on rounds 1&2 and round 29&30. A minimization of breaks with a fair distribution between the teams is preferred. This is achieved by assigning at most three breaks for each team over the whole season. Additionally, 2 consecutive rounds with a break are forbidden. So, it is not allowed that a team has more than 2 consecutive home or away games.

The final fairness constraint assures that each team has the same number of home and away games during the special period. This will make sure that no team must travel to more away games than other teams and allow a fairer distribution of travelling distance over the teams. In the 2-round approach, a home and away must be scheduled for each team. For the 4-round approach this means two home games and two away games for each team. Additionally, no break is allowed in the second and fourth round to make sure that each team has an away game in both December and January. As there is a three-week interruption of the tournament between round 21 in December and round 22 in January, having 2 home or away games on these two rounds is not an

issue. I assume that this has no influence on the stadium attendance and the sportive results of the teams.

4.4. Data

4.4.1. Travelling Distance Matrix The travelling distance between the teams is based on the distance between their venues. The addresses of the venues are found on the teams’ websites and are included in Appendix A. To find the distances in the matrix, I used Google Maps (Google, sd) and selected the minimal listed distance between the venues of each pair of teams. For some pairs, the distance for team A travelling to team B is slightly different than team B travelling to team A. If this is the case, I take the average of both distances. This makes sure that both teams have an equal chance to be chosen as the home or away team in the special period. When the actual different distances would be included in the matrix, the team with the shortest travelling distance in a pair would always be chosen as the away team because the objective is to the minimize the total overall travel distance. The distance matrices for the three seasons can also be found in appendix A.

Figure 4-1: Venue Locations of the Teams: Season 2018-2019

When looking at the matrices some teams have significantly larger distances than other teams. This is not surprising as the venues of the teams are spread across the country. Figure 4-1 shows the venues of the teams in the 2018-2019 season on the map of Belgium. Eleven teams are located in the upper-left corner of the map, which results in them having the lowest total travelling distance over the whole season. The other five teams are more separated from the rest which increases their total distance over the season. Sporting Charleroi is located remotely from the other teams.

This results in only 3 distances below 100km in the matrix. The same can be said about KAS Eupen.

These differences in travelling distances between the teams will have to be considered when analysing the results: some teams will always have a larger distance than other teams because of their location.

4.4.2. Actual Schedules & Distances The actual schedules used in the three seasons from 2016-2019 and the distances travelled during the special periods are necessary to allow comparison with the new schedules in which the distance minimization is included. For each season, the schedules for rounds 20 & 21 in December and rounds 22 & 23 in January are listed. Based on these schedules, the individual travelling distance for each team and the total distance for all teams during the special period are calculated, both for the 2-round and 4-round approach. The actual schedule for each season also reveals the round on which a Super Sunday is required.

Season 2018-2019 The schedule under review for the 2018-2019 season includes Teams 2-Rounds4-Rounds Royal Antwerp 109 202 rounds 20 (played on 21-23/12/2018) and 21 (played on 26- Club Brugge KV 72 95 KAA Gent 147 196 27/12/2018) for the 2-round approach, and additionally rounds 22 Cercle Brugge KSV 49 143 Standard de Liège 93 222 (played on 18-20/01/2019) and 23 (played on 25-27/01/2019) for KV Kortrijk 160 357 Sporting Charleroi 127 277 the 4-round approach (sport.be, 2018). The team pairings and the KV Oostende 215 288 resulting travelling distance for the away team are given in Appendix RSC Anderlecht 103 154 Royal Excel Mouscron 119 319 B. For the 2 rounds in December, the total distance for all the teams Sporting Lokeren 23 207 KRC Genk 82 124 is equal to 1779km. This increases to 3541km for the 4-rounds STVV 178 338 Waasland-Beveren 57 173 approach when January is included. Table 4-1 shows the total KAS Eupen 229 377 Zulte Waregem 16 69 travelling distance for the individual teams, both in the 2-rounds and Total 1779 3541 Table 4-1: Travelling Distances per 4-rounds approach. Team: Season 2018-2019

The Super Sundays for 2018-2019 are scheduled on rounds 8,10,17,24 and 27.

Season 2017-2018 Teams 2-Rounds4-Rounds Royal Antwerp 89 89 The 4 rounds in the special period for the 2017-2018 season are Club Brugge KV 123 232 KAA Gent 51 118 round 20 (20-23/12/2017), 21 (26-27/12/2017), 22 (19-21/01/2018) YR KV Mechelen 46 115 Standard de Liège 197 378 and 23 (23-25/01/2018) (sport.be, 2017). The schedule for these KV Kortrijk 190 267 Sporting Charleroi 229 359 rounds can be found in appendix B. KV Oostende 112 135 RSC Anderlecht 0 108 The total travelling distance in 2-round approach is 1735km. For the Royal Excel Mouscron 59 183 Sporting Lokeren 44 69 4-round approach this increases to 3091km. The individual KRC Genk 209 335 STVV 41 149 travelling distances for the teams in both approaches are listed in Waasland-Beveren 167 224 KAS Eupen 148 194 table 4-2. Zulte Waregem 30 136 Total 1735 3091 Rounds 5, 9, 14, 19 and 24 are defined as Super Sunday rounds. Table 4-2: Travelling Distances per Team: Season 2017-2018

Season 2016-2017 Teams 2-Rounds4-Rounds KVC Westerlo 156 192 Like the other two seasons under review, the 4 rounds are 20 (20- Club Brugge KV 229 425 KAA Gent 147 172 22/12/2016), 21 (26-27/12/2016), 22 (20-22/01/2017) and 23 (24- YR KV Mechelen 106 175 Standard de Liège 41 87 26/01/2017) (voetbalkrant, 2016). The schedule can also be found KV Kortrijk 146 336 Sporting Charleroi 90 360 in appendix B. KV Oostende 63 175 RSC Anderlecht 107 183 A total travelling distance of 1847km and 3249km is needed in the Royal Excel Mouscron 59 89 Sporting Lokeren 150 230 2-rounds and 4-rounds approach, respectively. The individual KRC Genk 175 257 STVV 108 188 distances for both approaches are shown in table 4-3. Waasland-Beveren 23 117 KAS Eupen 247 247 Zulte Waregem 0 16 A Super Sunday in this season is required on rounds 5, 9 and 24. Total 1847 3249 Table 4-3: Travelling Distances per Team: Season 2016-2017

4.5. Special Period Fairness Approaches

4.5.1. Fairness Approach 1: Total Distance Minimization The basic approach is a minimization of the total distance travelled by all the teams during the special period, without using any extra constraints to incorporate a fairness for the distance travelled by each team. This means that the total travelling distance will be the minimum possible value, but that some teams might have to travel a lot further than other teams during the two or four special rounds. The results from this approach will give the lower bound for the distance minimization that can be used to compare the results from the other approaches with.

4.5.2. Fairness Approach 2: Limited Travelling Distance per Team per Round Fairness can also be included in the schedule by limiting the amount a team is allowed to travel on a single round during the special period. This will allow to eliminate excessive distances that might be scheduled for an individual team for a single match in the first approach. The overall distance for all teams over the special rounds might not be minimized. However, this result can be preferred if the excessive individual team’s distances are eliminated while the objective value is not significantly higher than the lower bound from the first approach.

For both the 2- and 4-round special periods, the Christmas round (round 21) will be considered as the preferred round to have the lowest feasible travelling distance. The reason for this is, as mentioned above, that the fans and players prefer to spend more time with family on the days after Christmas.

4.5.3. Fairness Approach 3: Limited Difference Between Teams Since the main goal of these fairness approaches is to eliminate the fact that one team has to travel a long distance during the special period while other teams only have to travel a short distance, a limit on the difference in travelling distance between the teams can be set. This makes sure that the total distances during the special periods for each team will not be too different from each other.

The limit for each approach is not based on a specific method but on a personal decision on what a reasonable maximum difference for both the 2- and 4-round special periods would be. Together with trial and error a limit will be set for each instance that returns a feasible model with an acceptable difference in distance between the teams.

4.5.4. Fairness Approach 4: Limited Travelling Distance per Team over Special Rounds Instead of limiting the maximum travel distance on each round, it can be better to limit the total distance each individual team has to travel over all rounds of the special period. For the 2-round special period this is not different than Fairness Approach 2, so this is only relevant for minimizing the distance in 4 special rounds. Since each team must be assigned 2 away matches during these special rounds, the sum of these two distances must be limited. By using this approach, the distance fairness is looked at for the whole special period. This might be preferred since each of the four special rounds can be considered as equally important.

5. Model The integer linear programming model for setting up a schedule for the Belgian Football League consists of various elements: indices, parameters, decision variables and constraints. The mathematical formulation of the basic model is explained first. This basic model represents Fairness Approach 1. The other fairness approaches have their unique constraints to handle the difference in travelling distance between the teams. These specific constraints are explained next and are added to the basic integer model for the simulation.

5.1. Basic Model 5.1.1. Indices Teams The Jupiler Pro League consists of 16 teams with each team having its own venue. The indices that define the teams are:

n teams T, with n = 16

For the 2018-2019 season T = [Royal Antwerp FC, Club Brugge KV, KAA Gent, Cercle Brugge KSV, Standard de Liège, KV Kortrijk, Sporting Charleroi, KV Oostende, RSC Anderlecht, Royal Excel Mouscron, Sporting Lokeren, KRC Genk, STVV, Waasland - SK, KAS Eupen, Zulte Waregem].

Compared to 2018-2019, for the 2017-2018 season Cercle Brugge KSV is replaced by YR KV Mechelen. For 2016-2017 Cercle Brugge KSV and Royal Antwerp are replaced by YR KV Mechelen and KVC Westerlo.

Rounds The Jupiler Pro League is played in a total of (2(n-1)) 30 rounds. This means that the first and second half of the tournament both consist of 15 rounds. The indices for the rounds in the total and both halves of the tournament are the following:

Rounds r ∈ R, with r = 30 rounds

First-Half Rounds: R1 = [rounds 1-15] ∈ R

Second-Half Rounds: R2 = [rounds 15-30] ∈ R

Special Period The rounds in the special period are the ones considered for the distance minimization. For the 2- round special period these are the rounds scheduled in December, more specifically round 20 and 21, with round 21 being the Christmas round. In the 4-rounds alternative the special period runs from round to 20 to 23.

2-Rounds Special Period: Rs = [rounds 20-21] ∈ R

4-Rounds Special Period: Rs = [rounds 20-23] ∈ R

Gap Rounds Since the tournament is non-mirrored, the order of matches in the first half of the season is not the same as in the second half. To prevent that the two matches between two teams are scheduled on rounds too close to each other, a gap of 5 rounds must be included in the model. For example, when team A has a match with team B on round 11, their next match can only be planned on round 16 or later. To model this, only the 5 last rounds of the first half have to be looked at and this is done by modelling the range Gaprounds.

Gaprounds: Rg = [11,12,13,14,15] ∈ R

Super Sunday Rounds The rounds on which a Super Sunday must be scheduled are predetermined by the TV- broadcasters for each season. As mentioned above, the rounds for each season are the following:

2018-2019 Super Sunday Rounds: Rss = [8,10,17,24,27] ∈ R

2017-2018 Super Sunday Rounds: Rss = [5,9,14,19,24] ∈ R

2016-2017 Super Sunday Rounds: Rss = [5,9,24] ∈ R

5.1.2. Decision Variables Matches A match is game between a home team and away team on a specific round. The home team is indicated by h, the away team by a. The decision variable to represent the matches in the schedule is a binary value.

Match xh,a,r 1, if a game is planned with team h playing at home against away team a on round r

0, if no game is planned on round r between home team h and away team a

with 풙풉,풂,풓 ∈ {ퟎ, ퟏ} ∀ 풉, 풂 ∈ 푻, 풉 ≠ 풂, 풓 흐 푹

Breaks When a team has 2 home (or away) matches on consecutive rounds, they have a home (or away) break. A binary decision variable is needed to model the breaks, starting from round 2 (R≥2) since it’s impossible to have a break on the first round.

Break brn,r 1, if team n has a break (home or away) on round r

0, if a home (or away) fixture is preceded by an away (or home) fixture

ퟐ with 풃풓풏,풓 ∈ {ퟎ, ퟏ} ∀ 풏 ∈ 푻, 풓 ∈ 푹

5.1.3. Parameters Distances The distance the away team must travel for a scheduled match is based on the distance between the venue of the home team and away team. The model uses a 2x2 distance matrix to implement these distances. The matrices for the three seasons are included in Appendix A.

Distance Dh,a Distance between venue team h and venue team a

with 풉, 풂 ∈ 푻, 푫풉,풂 = 푫풂,풉

Breaks per team A limited number of breaks is preferred for each team. At most 3 breaks over the total tournament are allowed for every team.

Brfix ≤ 3 Limits the number of breaks per team to 3

Attractive Matches The matches between the ‘G5’ (Club Brugge KV, KAA Gent, Standard de Liège, RSC Anderlecht & KRC Genk) are labelled as attractive. A 2x2 matrix is used to represent these attractive matches in the model:

Attractive match atth,a 1, if a match between home team h and away team b is attractive

0, match between h and a is not labelled as attractive

with 풉, 풂 ∈ 푻, 풂풕풕풉,풂 = 풂풕풕풂,풉

The matrix for season 2018-2019 can be found in Appendix C. Note that the same matrix can be used for the other two seasons as well, because the teams that are replaced are not part of the top five teams.

5.1.4. Objective Function The goal is to minimize the travelling distance of all teams during the special periods of 2 or 4 rounds. The total travelling distance is sum of distance D for each match x for every round in special period Rs.

∑∑ ∑ 푴풊풏 풉∈푻 풂∈푻/{풉} 풓∈푹풔 풙풉,풂,풓푫풉,풂

5.1.5. Constraints Constraint 1: Each team has exactly one match each round

∑풂∈푻(풙풉,풂,풓 + 풙풂,풉,풓)= ퟏ ∀ 풉 ∈ 푻, 풓 ∈ 푹, 풉 ≠ 풂

Constraint 2: Two teams must have 2 matches against each other, once in the first half of the tournament and once in the second half of the tournament First Half of Tournament:

∑ (풙 + 풙 )= ퟏ ∀ 풉, 풂 ∈ 푻, 풉 ≠ 풂 풓∈푹ퟏ 풉,풂,풓 풂,풉,풓

Second Half of Tournament:

∑ (풙 + 풙 )= ퟏ ∀ 풉, 풂 ∈ 푻, 풉 ≠ 풂 풓∈푹ퟐ 풉,풂,풓 풂,풉,풓

Constraint 3: Each team must have a home and away match against every other team

∑풓∈푹(풙풉,풂,풓 − 풙풂,풉,풓)= ퟎ ∀풉, 풂 ∈ 푻, 풉 ≠ 풂

Constraint 4: Complementary Constraint: Limits the number of home matches scheduled for both Club Brugge KV and Cercle Brugge to 1 in each round

∑풂∈푻(풙푪풍풖풃 푩풓풖품품풆 푲푽,풂,풓 + 풙푪풆풓풄풍풆 푩풓풖품품풆 푲푺푽,풂,풓)≤ ퟏ ∀ 풓 ∈ 푹

Note that this constraint is not necessary for the 2016-2017 season since Cercle Brugge KSV was then playing in the Proximus League.

Constraint 5: A gap of at least 5 rounds is preferred between two matches of each pair of teams ퟓ ∑풓ퟎ(풙풉,풂,풓풓 + 풙풂,풉,풓풓)≤ ퟏ ∀ 풉, 풂 ∈ 푻, 풓 ∈ 푹품, 풉 ≠ 풂

Constraint 6: Break constraints Home Breaks

ퟐ ∑풂∈푻\{풉}(풙풉,풂,풓ퟏ + 풙풉,풂,풓 − 풃풓풉,풓)≤ ퟏ ∀ 풉 ∈ 푻, 풓 ∈ 푹

Away Breaks

ퟐ ∑풉∈푻\{풂}(풙풉,풂,풓ퟏ + 풙풉,풂,풓 − 풃풓풂,풓)≤ ퟏ ∀ 풂 ∈ 푻, 풓 ∈ 푹

Number of breaks for each team equal to 3

∑풓∈푹ퟐ 풃풓풕,풓 = 풃풓풇풊풙 ∀ 풕 ∈ 푻

The next two constraint are added to avoid more than 2 consecutive home or away matches, because it took Cplex a very long time to simulate when the limit for the breaks per team was set to 3.

Home Breaks

ퟑ ∑풂∈푻\{풉}(풙풉,풂,풓ퟐ + 풙풉,풂,풓ퟏ + 풙풉,풂,풓) ≤ ퟐ ∀ 풉 ∈ 푻, 풓 ∈ 푹

Away Breaks

ퟑ ∑풉∈푻\{풂}(풙풉,풂,풓ퟐ + 풙풉,풂,풓ퟏ + 풙풉,풂,풓) ≤ ퟐ ∀ 풂 ∈ 푻, 풓 ∈ 푹

Constraint 7: No consecutive home/away matches on first and last two rounds of the tournament Beginning of the Season (Round 1&2)

∑풂∈푻\{풉}(풙풉,풂,ퟏ + 풙풉,풂,ퟐ)= ퟏ ∀ 풉 ∈ 푻

End of the Season (Round 29&30)

∑풂∈푻\{풉}(풙풉,풂,ퟐퟗ + 풙풉,풂,ퟑퟎ)= ퟏ ∀ 풉 ∈ 푻

Constraint 8: Every team must have an equal number of home and away games during special period, with an away game in both December and January in the 4-round special period 2-Round Special Period (1 home and 1 away match for each team)

∑ ∑ 풙 = ퟏ ∀ 풉 ∈ 푻 풂∈푻\{풉} 풓∈푹풔 풉,풂,풓

4-Round Special Period (2 home and 2 away matches for each team + an away game in December and January)

∑ ∑ 풂∈푻\{풉} 풓∈푹풔 풙풉,풂,풓 = ퟐ ∀ 풉 ∈ 푻

∑풉 ∈ 푻\{풂}(풙풉,풂,ퟐퟎ + 풙풉,풂,ퟐퟏ)= ퟏ ∀ 풂 ∈ 푻

∑풉 ∈ 푻\{풂}(풙풉,풂,ퟐퟐ + 풙풉,풂,ퟐퟑ)= ퟏ ∀ 풂 ∈ 푻

Constraint 9: Fixes number of attractive matches on Super Sunday Rounds

∑풉∈푻 ∑풂∈푻(풙풂,풉,풓 ∗ 풂풕풕풂,풉)= ퟐ ∀ 풓 ∈ 푹풔풔, 풂 ≠ 풉

5.2. Fairness Approaches Constraints 5.2.1. Fairness Approach 1: Total Minimization Since there are no additional constraints needed, solving the basic model will give the results for this approach.

5.2.2. Fairness Approach 2: Limited Travelling Distance per Team per Round An extra parameter and constraint are needed to model this approach:

Parameter:

Max Distance per Round Drmax limit for the maximum distance on a single round

Constraint 10: Limits the distance travelled for each team during single rounds of the special period

(풙풉,풂,풓 ∗ 푫풉,풂)≤ 푫풓풎풂풙 ∀ 풉, 풂 ∈ 푻, 풉 ≠ 풂, 풓 ∈ 푹풔

5.2.3. Fairness Approach 3: Limited Difference Between Teams The additional parameter and constraint needed for this approach are the following:

Parameter:

Max Distance Difference Ddiffmax limit for maximum distance difference between teams during total special period

Constraint 11: Limits the difference in travelling distance between all the teams during the special period ∑ ∑ (풙 ∗ 푫 )− ∑ ∑ (풙 ∗ 푫 ) ≤ 푫 풉∈푻\{풂ퟏ) 풓∈푹풔 풉,풂ퟏ,풓 풉,풂ퟏ 풉∈푻\{풂ퟐ} 풓∈푹풔 풉,풂ퟐ,풓 풉,풂ퟐ 풅풊풇풇풎풂풙

∑ ∑ (풙 ∗ 푫 )− ∑ ∑ (풙 ∗ 푫 ) ≤ 푫 풉∈푻\{풂ퟐ} 풓∈푹풔 풉,풂ퟐ,풓 풉,풂ퟐ 풉∈푻\{풂ퟏ) 풓∈푹풔 풉,풂ퟏ,풓 풉,풂ퟏ 풅풊풇풇풎풂풙

∀ 풂ퟏ, 풂ퟐ ∈ 푻, 풂ퟏ ≠ 풂ퟐ

5.2.4. Fairness Approach 4: Limited Travelling Distance per Team over Special Rounds The additional parameter and constraint for this approach are the following:

Parameter:

Max Distance over Special Period Dspmax limit for maximum distance during total special period

Constraint 12: Limits the total travelling distance for each team during the special periods ∑ ∑ 풉∈푻\{풂} 풓∈푹풔(풙풉,풂,풓 ∗ 푫풉,풂)≤ 푫풔풑풎풂풙 ∀ 풂 ∈ 푻

6. Simulation & Results By using the model from section 5 for the various approaches, solutions were found for the three seasons by running it in CPLEX 12.8. The CPLEX model can be found in appendix D.

I ran the models on DOCplexcloud which allowed for a faster runtime compared to running them locally on my computer. The cloud server was able to find near optimal solutions with a gap less than 0.01% (default termination value in Cplex) for all the variations, with runtimes ranging from a couple minutes to close to an hour. The results for the various approaches are given below.

Unfortunately, I was unable to include the break constraints to limit the number of breaks for each team. When these were included, CPLEX did not find any feasible solutions within a reasonable runtime. To assure a basic break limitation, I added the constraints to limit the maximum number of consecutive home and away games to two. The constraints that guarantee no breaks at the beginning and end of the season are still included. Also because of this, I added an approach where the home away patterns from the actual schedules are used. This will be further explained as an additional approach in section 6.5.

6.1. Fairness Approach 1: Total Distance Minimization The schedules for the first approach are found by solving the basic model and the resulting travelling distances give the lower bound for the minimization objective. This lower bound is used as a benchmark to compare the other approaches with. When these other approaches don’t increase the overall travelling distance too much while assuring a fairer schedule, they can be preferred over the total minimization from approach 1.

Special Period 2-Round 4-Round Season Actual Improved Difference % Actual Improved Difference % 2018-2019 1779 670 1109 0.62 3541 1672 1869 0.53 2017-2018 1735 688 1047 0.60 3091 1704 1387 0.45 2016-2017 1847 718 1129 0.61 3249 1700 1549 0.48 Table 6-1: Total Overall Distances & Comparison Approach 1 The resulting total travelling distance for each season for both 2-round and 4-round special period are summarized in table 6-1. Solving the model for the 2-rounds results in a travelling distance of 670km for season 2018-2019, 688km for season 2017-2018 and 718km in season 2016-2017. This is a significant improvement of around 60% for the three seasons compared to the actual used schedules. The improved travelling distances for the 4-rounds special period are around 1700km for the three seasons. This results in improvements ranging from 45% to 53%.

The schedules for 2- and 4-round special periods together with the comparison for the individual teams, for the three seasons are given below. The schedules for the total tournament can be found in Appendix E.

6.1.1. 2-Round Special Period Season 2018-2019 Round 20 (21-23/12/2018) Distance Round 21 (26-27/12/2018) Distance KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren 25 Royal Antwerp Sporting Charleroi 105 Cercle Brugge KSV KV Oostende 23 Club Brugge KV Cercle Brugge KSV 0 Standard de Liège KAS Eupen 46 KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem 16 Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht 56 KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron 73 Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk 14 RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent 51 KRC Genk STVV 42 Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren 23 Waasland-Beveren Royal Antwerp 20 STVV Standard de Liège 41 Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV 53 KAS Eupen KRC Genk 82 Total 279 Total 391 Table 6-2: 2-Round Special Period Schedule 2018-2019 (Fairness 1)

Comparing the change in distance for each team between the actual and the improved schedule shows a significant improvement for most teams, going up to 192km for KV Oostende. Except Sporting Table 6-3: 2-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2018-2019 Lokeren must travel 2km further and both Zulte Waregem and KRC (Fairness 1) Genk have the same travelling distance as the actual schedule.

Season 2017-2018 Round 20 (20-23/12/2017) Distance Round 21 (26-27/12/2017) Distance Teams Actual Improved Difference Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren 20 Club Brugge KV KV Oostende 23 Royal Antwerp 89 28 61 KAA Gent Club Brugge KV 49 YR KV Mechelen Royal Antwerp 28 Club Brugge KV 123 49 74 KAA Gent 51 31 20 KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem 16 Standard de Liège KAS Eupen 46 YR KV Mechelen 46 90 -44 Sporting Charleroi YR KV Mechelen 90 RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi 56 Standard de Liège 197 41 156 KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron 73 Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk 14 KV Kortrijk 190 14 176 Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht 54 KRC Genk STVV 42 Sporting Charleroi 229 56 173 STVV Standard de Liège 41 Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren 23 KV Oostende 112 23 89 KAS Eupen KRC Genk 82 Zulte Waregem KAA Gent 31 RSC Anderlecht 0 54 -54 Total 425 Total 263 Royal Excel Mouscron 59 73 -14 Sporting Lokeren 44 23 21 Table 6-4: 2-Round Special Period Schedule 2017-2018 (Fairness 1) KRC Genk 209 82 127 STVV 41 42 -1 The biggest improvements over the actual schedule can be seen for Waasland-Beveren 167 20 147 KAS Eupen 148 46 102 Zulte Waregem 30 16 14 KV Kortrijk, Sporting Charleroi and Standard de Liège, with 176km, Total 1735 688 1047 173km and 156km, respectively. Most of the other teams see an Table 6-5: 2-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2017-2018 improvement as well. However, RSC Anderlecht, YR KV Mechelen, (Fairness 1) Royal Excel Mouscron and STVV have an increased travelling distance. For the latter two, this is only a small increase while the former two do have a larger increase in distance. In the case of RSC Anderlecht, it should be noted that they had 2 home games in the actual schedule, so an increase cannot be avoided when each team must have a home and away game during the special period in the improved schedule.

Season 2016-2017

Round 20 (20-22/12/2016) Distance Round 21 (26-27/12/2016) Distance Teams Actual Improved Difference KVC Westerlo STVV 43 KAA Gent Club Brugge KV 49 KVC Westerlo 156 36 120 Club Brugge KV KV Oostende 23 YR KV Mechelen KVC Westerlo 36 Club Brugge KV 229 49 180 Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi 93 KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem 16 KAA Gent 147 31 116 RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren 54 Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht 56 YR KV Mechelen 106 37 69 Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk 14 KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron 73 Standard de Liège 41 46 -5 KRC Genk KAS Eupen 82 Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren 23 KV Kortrijk 146 14 132 Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen 37 STVV KRC Genk 42 Sporting Charleroi 90 93 -3 Zulte Waregem KAA Gent 31 KAS Eupen Standard de Liège 46 KV Oostende 63 23 40 Total 377 Total 341 RSC Anderlecht 107 56 51 Royal Excel Mouscron 59 73 -14 Table 6-6: 2-Round Special Period Schedule 2016-2017 (Fairness 1) Sporting Lokeren 150 54 96 KRC Genk 175 42 133 STVV 108 43 65 Improvements are achieved for most teams compared to the actual Waasland-Beveren 23 23 0 KAS Eupen 247 82 165 schedule. Club Brugge and KAS Eupen have the largest reductions Zulte Waregem 0 16 -16 Total 1847 718 1129 in their travelling distance. Zulte Waregem, Royal Excel Mouscron, Table 6-7: 2-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2016-2017 Sporting Charleroi and Standard de Liège have a slight increase in (Fairness 1) travelling distance. Zulte Waregem has two home games in the actual schedule, so an increase is unavoidable. The distance for Waasland-Beveren remains the same for both schedules.

6.1.2. 4-Round Special Period Season 2018-2019

Round 20 (21-23/12/2018) Distance Round 21 (26-27/12/2018) Distance Teams Actual Improved Difference Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren 44 Club Brugge KV KAA Gent 49 Royal Antwerp 202 193 9 KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren 47 Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen 130 Club Brugge KV 95 53 42 Cercle Brugge KSV Royal Excel Mouscron 59 KV Oostende Cercle Brugge KSV 23 KAA Gent 196 74 122 Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi 93 Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk 14 Cercle Brugge KSV 143 72 71 KV Kortrijk KV Oostende 63 Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem 53 Standard de Liège 222 104 118 RSC Anderlecht STVV 80 KRC Genk Royal Antwerp 88 KV Kortrijk 357 30 327 KAS Eupen KRC Genk 82 STVV Standard de Liège 41 Sporting Charleroi 277 149 128 Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV 53 Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht 57 KV Oostende 288 86 202 Total 521 Total 455 RSC Anderlecht 154 108 46 Royal Excel Mouscron 319 132 187 Round 22 (18-20/01/2019) Distance Round 23 (25-27/01/2019) Distance Sporting Lokeren 207 67 141 Club Brugge KV KV Oostende 23 Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren 20 KRC Genk 124 124 0 KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht 51 Cercle Brugge KSV Club Brugge KV 0 STVV 338 154 184 Standard de Liège KAS Eupen 46 KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron 73 Waasland-Beveren 173 67 106 KV Kortrijk Cercle Brugge KSV 49 RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi 56 KAS Eupen 377 176 201 Sporting Charleroi Royal Antwerp 105 Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent 25 Zulte Waregem 69 83 -14 Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem 30 KRC Genk Standard de Liège 63 Total 3541 1672 1869 STVV KRC Genk 42 KAS Eupen STVV 74 Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren 23 Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk 16 Table 6-9: 4-Round Individual Total 369 Total 327 Distance Comparison 2018-2019 Table 6-8: 4-Round Special Period Schedule 2018-2019 (Fairness 1) (Fairness 1)

The distances for the individual teams show an improvement for all teams, except for KRC Genk and Zulte Waregem. The travelling distance for KRC Genk is the same for both schedules and Zulte Waregem must travel 14km more in the ‘improved’ model.

For most teams the improvement is significant: KV Kortrijk sees its distance reduced with 327km; KAS Eupen and KV Oostende have an improvement just over 200km; and several other teams see a reduction of over 100km.

2017-2018

Round 20 (20-23/12/2017) Distance Round 21 (26-27/12/2017) Distance Teams Actual Improved Difference Club Brugge KV KAA Gent 49 Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren 20 Royal Antwerp 89 132 -43 YR KV Mechelen STVV 69 KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren 25 Club Brugge KV 232 76 156 KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem 16 Standard de Liège KAS Eupen 46 KAA Gent 118 80 38 Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende 73 Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron 124 YR KV Mechelen 115 68 47 Sporting Lokeren Royal Antwerp 44 KV Oostende KV Kortrijk 63 Standard de Liège 378 156 222 KRC Genk Standard de Liège 63 RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen 40 KV Kortrijk 267 112 155 Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht 57 STVV KRC Genk 42 Sporting Charleroi 359 186 173 KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi 130 Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV 53 KV Oostende 135 140 -5 Total 500 Total 413 RSC Anderlecht 108 111 -3 Royal Excel Mouscron 183 138 45 Round 22 (19-21/01/2018) Distance Round 23 (23-25/01/2018) Distance Sporting Lokeren 69 48 21 Royal Antwerp YR KV Mechelen 28 YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren 37 KRC Genk 335 124 211 Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk 49 KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron 14 STVV 149 110 39 KAA Gent KV Oostende 67 Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège 93 Waasland-Beveren 224 57 167 Standard de Liège STVV 41 KV Oostende Club Brugge KV 23 KAS Eupen 194 120 74 RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi 56 Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht 54 Zulte Waregem 136 46 90 Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem 30 KRC Genk Royal Antwerp 88 Total 3091 1704 1387 Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren 23 STVV KAS Eupen 74 Table 6-11: 4-Round Individual KAS Eupen KRC Genk 82 Zulte Waregem KAA Gent 31 Total 376 Total 414 Distance Comparison 2017-2018 (Fairness 1) Table 6-10: 4-Round Special Period Schedule 2017-2018 (Fairness 1)

Improvements of over 200km are noted for Standard de Liège and KRC Genk. Sporting Charleroi, Waasland-Beveren, Club Brugge KV and KV Kortrijk see a reduction in travelling distance of more than 150km. Royal Antwerp must travel 43km more compared to the actual schedule. RSC Anderlecht and KV Oostende see a small increase in distance, with 3km and 5km respectively.

2016-2017

Round 20 (20-22/12/2016) Distance Round 21 (26-27/12/2016) Distance Teams Actual Improved Difference Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk 16 KAS Eupen KRC Genk 82 KVC Westerlo 192 98 94 Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren 23 STVV KVC Westerlo 43 Club Brugge KV 425 102 323 KRC Genk STVV 42 Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht 54 KAA Gent 172 74 98 RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi 56 Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem 30 YR KV Mechelen 175 76 99 KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron 73 Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège 93 Standard de Liège 87 134 -47 Standard de Liège KAS Eupen 46 KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV 49 KV Kortrijk 336 79 257 Club Brugge KV KAA Gent 49 YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren 37 Sporting Charleroi 360 180 180 KVC Westerlo YR KV Mechelen 36 KAA Gent KV Oostende 67 KV Oostende 175 90 85 Total 341 Total 455 RSC Anderlecht 183 111 72 Royal Excel Mouscron 89 87 2 Round 22 (20-22/01/2017) Distance Round 23 (24-26/01/2017) Distance Sporting Lokeren 230 69 161 Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht 57 Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV 53 KRC Genk 257 145 112 STVV Standard de Liège 41 KAS Eupen STVV 74 STVV 188 116 72 KRC Genk KVC Westerlo 55 Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent 25 Waasland-Beveren 117 102 15 Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen 130 Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi 124 KAS Eupen 247 176 71 KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron 14 RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen 40 Zulte Waregem 16 61 -45 YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren 46 KV Oostende KV Kortrijk 63 Total 3249 1700 1549 KAA Gent Zulte Waregem 31 Standard de Liège KRC Genk 63 Club Brugge KV KV Oostende 23 KVC Westerlo Waasland-Beveren 65 Table 6-13: 4-Round Individual Total 397 Total 507 Distance Comparison 2016-2017 Table 6-12: 4-Round Special Period Schedule 2016-2017 (Fairness 1) (Fairness 1)

Club Brugge KV and KV Kortrijk see the biggest reduction in travelling compared with the actual schedule, with 323km and 257km respectively. Other teams see significant improvements over 100km while others only have a small improvement close to 0. Standard de Liège and Zulte Waregem have to travel almost 50km more.

6.2. Fairness Approach 2: Limited Travelling Distance per Team per Round

Special Period 2-Round 4-Round Season Actual Improved Difference % Actual Improved Difference % 2018-2019 1779 697 1082 0.61 3541 1672 1869 0.53 2017-2018 1735 688 1047 0.60 3091 1704 1387 0.45 2016-2017 1847 741 1106 0.60 3249 1700 1549 0.48 Table 6-14: Total Overall Distances & Comparison Approach 2

For each of the seasons, both in the 2- and 4-round special periods significant improvements are achieved. The resulting total distances are summarized in table 6-14. The reductions for the 2- round special periods are around 60% for the three seasons and around 50% for the 4 round- special periods. The resulting schedules for the 2- and 4-round special periods for each season are given below. The schedules for the whole tournament are given in Appendix F.

The limits for each instance are not randomly decided but are based on the values found in the distance matrices in Appendix A. By using the distance matrix separately for each season, the limit for round 21 can be found as follows:

Step 1: For each team, arrange their individual distances in a table in ascending order.

Step 2: Look for each of the teams at the lowest value (first row) in the table.

Step 3: Find highest distance among these lowest values and set this as the limit for the Christmas round. The tables with the ascending distance for the teams in each season are also included in Appendix A. In each row, the highest value is indicated in red.

In the 2-round special period, the limit for round 20 can be found as follows:

Step 1: Look at the ascending distance table (Appendix A).

Step 2: Find the team with the largest distance in the second row.

Step 3: Try to solve the model with the limit for round 20 equal to the value from step 2 and the limit for round 21 equal to the value found before.

Step 4: If Cplex gives an infeasibility (normally after a couple of seconds), set the limit for round 20 equal to the highest value in row 3 and try to solve again.

Step 5: Repeat step 4 by using the highest value in the next row, until Cplex gives a feasible solution.

For the remaining three rounds (20, 22 & 23) in the 4-round special period, an equal limit is set for all of them as none of them is seen as more important that the other. The following method is followed to find this shared limit:

Step 1: Look at the ascending distance table (Appendix A). Step 2: Set the limit for rounds 20, 22 and 23 equal to the highest value in row 4 of the table and the limit for round 21 equal to the value found before. Step 3: Try to solve model and when an infeasibility occurs, set the limit for the three rounds to the highest value of the fifth row and solve again. Step 4: If the model is infeasible, repeat for the highest value in the sixth, seventh, etc. row until the model is feasible.

6.2.1. 2-Round Special Period Season 2018-2019

Teams Actual Improved Difference Royal Antwerp 109 88 21 Club Brugge KV 72 53 19 KAA Gent 147 25 122 Cercle Brugge KSV 49 0 49 Standard de Liège 93 93 0 KV Kortrijk 160 14 146 Sporting Charleroi 127 56 71 KV Oostende 215 23 192 RSC Anderlecht 103 51 52 Royal Excel Mouscron 119 73 46 Table 6-15: 2-Round Special Period Schedule 2018-2019 (Fairness 2) Sporting Lokeren 23 23 0 KRC Genk 82 42 40 The distance limit for round 20 is set to 93km and to 56km for round STVV 178 74 104 Waasland-Beveren 57 20 37 KAS Eupen 229 46 183 21. 56km is the lowest distance for Sporting Charleroi in the Zulte Waregem 16 16 0 distance matrix. Setting the value for round 20 equal to 88km, the Total 3541 697 1082 Table 6-16: 2-Round Individual second lowest value for Sporting Charleroi and the highest value in Distance Comparison 2018-2019 (Fairness 2) row 2 of the ascending distance table, makes the model infeasible. The next highest value in the third row of the table, equal to 93km, as limit for round 20 gives a feasible model.

The individual distances show improvement for most teams compared to the actual schedule, with the most significant reductions for KV Oostende and KAS Eupen. There is no change in travelling distance for Standard de Liège, Sporting Lokeren and Zulte Waregem.

Season 2017-2018

Round 20 (20-23/12/2017) Distance Round 21 (26-27/12/2017) Distance Teams Actual Improved Difference Club Brugge KV KAA Gent 49 Royal Antwerp YR KV Mechelen 28 Royal Antwerp 89 20 69 YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi 90 KAA Gent Zulte Waregem 31 Club Brugge KV 123 23 100 RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren 54 Standard de Liège KAS Eupen 46 KAA Gent 51 49 2 Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende 73 KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron 14 YR KV Mechelen 46 28 18 STVV Standard de Liège 41 Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht 56 Standard de Liège 197 41 156 Waasland-Beveren Royal Antwerp 20 KV Oostende Club Brugge KV 23 KV Kortrijk 190 16 174 KAS Eupen KRC Genk 82 Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren 23 Sporting Charleroi 229 90 139 Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk 16 KRC Genk STVV 42 KV Oostende 112 73 39 Total 425 Total 263 RSC Anderlecht 0 56 -56 Royal Excel Mouscron 59 14 45 Table 6-17: 2-Round Special Period Schedule 2017-2018 (Fairness 2) Sporting Lokeren 44 54 -10 KRC Genk 209 82 127 The limit for round 21 is again set to 56km, the lowest value for STVV 41 42 -1 Waasland-Beveren 167 23 144 Sporting Charleroi. Setting the limit for round 20 to 90km is the KAS Eupen 148 46 102 Zulte Waregem 30 31 -1 Total 1735 688 1047 lowest value that gives a feasible model. Table 6-18: 2-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2017-2018 KV Kortrijk, Standard de Liège and Sporting Charleroi have the (Fairness 2) biggest improvements over the actual schedule. Sporting Lokeren, STVV and Zulte Waregem have a slightly larger travelling distance. The relatively large increase for RSC Anderlecht is due to them having no away game during the special period in the actual schedule.

Season 2016-2017

Teams Actual Improved Difference KVC Westerlo 156 65 91 Club Brugge KV 229 23 206 KAA Gent 147 49 98 YR KV Mechelen 106 36 70 Standard de Liège 41 41 0 KV Kortrijk 146 16 130 Sporting Charleroi 90 90 0 KV Oostende 63 73 -10 RSC Anderlecht 107 56 51 Royal Excel Mouscron 59 14 45 Table 6-19: 2-Round Special Period Schedule 2016-2017 (Fairness 2) Sporting Lokeren 150 54 96 KRC Genk 175 82 93 The distance for round 21 is again limited to the lowest value for STVV 108 42 66 Waasland-Beveren 23 23 0 KAS Eupen 247 46 201 Sporting Charleroi (56km) and to 90km for round 20. Limiting round Zulte Waregem 0 31 -31 Total 1847 741 1106 20 to 88km makes the model infeasible. Table 6-20: 2-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2016-2017 (Fairness 2)

The resulting schedule shows significant improvements over 200km for Club Brugge KV and KAS Eupen. Zulte Waregem and KV Oostende see a slight increase in their travelling distance. For the former this is not surprising as they had no away game in the actual schedule. The distance remains the same for Standard de Liège, Sporting Charleroi and Waasland-Beveren

6.2.2. 4-Round Special Period Season 2018-2019

Round 20 (21-23/12/2018) Distance Round 21 (26-27/12/2018) Distance Teams Actual Improved Difference Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren 44 Club Brugge KV KV Oostende 23 Royal Antwerp 202 125 77 KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren 47 RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi 56 Club Brugge KV 95 59 36 Cercle Brugge KSV Club Brugge KV 0 Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk 14 KAA Gent 196 74 122 Standard de Liège KRC Genk 63 Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent 25 Cercle Brugge KSV 143 76 67 KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem 16 KRC Genk STVV 42 Standard de Liège 222 87 135 Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen 130 Waasland-Beveren Royal Antwerp 20 KV Kortrijk 357 63 294 KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron 73 KAS Eupen Standard de Liège 46 Sporting Charleroi 277 149 128 STVV RSC Anderlecht 80 Zulte Waregem Cercle Brugge KSV 53 KV Oostende 288 86 202 Total 453 Total 279 RSC Anderlecht 154 131 23 Royal Excel Mouscron 319 103 216 Round 22 (18-20/01/2019) Distance Round 23 (25-27/01/2019) Distance Sporting Lokeren 207 67 141 Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk 49 Royal Antwerp KRC Genk 88 KRC Genk 124 151 -27 KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht 51 Cercle Brugge KSV KAA Gent 49 STVV 338 116 222 Sporting Charleroi Royal Antwerp 105 Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi 93 Waasland-Beveren 173 104 69 KV Oostende Cercle Brugge KSV 23 KV Kortrijk KV Oostende 63 KAS Eupen 377 212 165 KRC Genk KAS Eupen 82 RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren 57 Zulte Waregem 69 69 0 STVV Standard de Liège 41 Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV 59 Total 3541 1672 1869 Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren 23 Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem 53 Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron 30 KAS Eupen STVV 74 Table 6-22: 4-Round Individual Total 404 Total 536 Distance Comparison 2018-2019 (Fairness 2) Table 6-21: 4-Round Special Period Schedule 2018-2019 (Fairness 2)

Again, when looking at the lowest travelling distance for each team in the distance matrix, we see that Sporting Charleroi has the highest minimum distance with 56km. Setting the limit for round 21 below or equal to 56km for each team will assure that no team has to travel an excessive distance on the Christmas round. Setting the limit for the other three rounds to 130km results in a feasible model. This is the highest value in row 4 in the ascending distance table in Appendix A.

Each team has to travel less than the actual schedule, except for KRC Genk and Zulte Waregem. The biggest improvement is achieved for KV Kortrijk with a reduction in travelling distance of 294km.

Season 2017-2018

Round 20 (20-23/12/2017) Distance Round 21 (26-27/12/2017) Distance Teams Actual Improved Difference Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren 20 Club Brugge KV KV Oostende 23 Royal Antwerp 89 72 18 KAA Gent Club Brugge KV 49 Standard de Liège KAS Eupen 46 Club Brugge KV 232 102 130 YR KV Mechelen STVV 69 Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht 56 KAA Gent 118 98 20 KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem 16 Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk 14 YR KV Mechelen 115 77 38 KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron 73 Sporting Lokeren Royal Antwerp 44 Standard de Liège 378 104 274 RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren 54 STVV KRC Genk 42 KV Kortrijk 267 63 204 KRC Genk Standard de Liège 63 Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen 37 Sporting Charleroi 359 223 136 KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi 130 Zulte Waregem KAA Gent 31 KV Oostende 135 86 49 Total 474 Total 293 RSC Anderlecht 108 113 -5 Royal Excel Mouscron 183 197 -14 Round 22 (19-21/01/2018) Distance Round 23 (23-25/01/2018) Distance Sporting Lokeren 69 79 -10 Royal Antwerp KRC Genk 88 KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren 25 KRC Genk 335 130 205 Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk 49 YR KV Mechelen Royal Antwerp 28 STVV 149 143 6 Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi 93 KV Kortrijk KV Oostende 63 Waasland-Beveren 224 43 181 KV Oostende KAA Gent 67 Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron 124 KAS Eupen 194 128 66 RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen 40 KRC Genk KAS Eupen 82 Zulte Waregem 136 46 90 Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem 30 STVV Standard de Liège 41 Total 3091 1704 1387 Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren 23 Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht 57 KAS Eupen STVV 74 Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV 53 Table 6-23: 4-Round Individual Total 464 Total 473 Distance Comparison 2017-2018 Table 6-24: 4-Round Special Period Schedule 2017-2018 (Fairness 2) (Fairness 2)

The limit for round 21 is again set to 56km. For rounds 20,22 and 23 the limit is again set to 130km, the fourth lowest distance for KAS Eupen in the distance matrix.

A reduction in travelling distance of 274km is found for Standard de Liège. KV Kortrijk and KRC Genk also have an improvement over 200km. Most of the other teams have a reduced distance as well, ranging from 6km for STVV to 181km for Waasland-Beveren. Royal Excel Mouscron, Sporting Lokeren and RSC Anderlecht see their distance slightly increasing compared to the actual schedule.

Season 2016-2017

Round 20 (20-22/12/2016) Distance Round 21 (26-27/12/2016) Distance Teams Actual Improved Difference KVC Westerlo Sporting Charleroi 116 YR KV Mechelen KVC Westerlo 36 KVC Westerlo 192 91 101 Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk 49 Standard de Liège KAS Eupen 46 Club Brugge KV 425 72 353 KAA Gent KV Oostende 67 KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron 14 KAA Gent 172 78 94 RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren 57 Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht 56 YR KV Mechelen 175 86 89 Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem 30 KV Oostende Club Brugge KV 23 Standard de Liège 87 134 -47 Sporting Lokeren YR KV Mechelen 46 KRC Genk STVV 42 KV Kortrijk 336 112 224 STVV Standard de Liège 41 Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren 23 Sporting Charleroi 360 204 156 KAS Eupen KRC Genk 82 Zulte Waregem KAA Gent 31 KV Oostende 175 140 35 Total 488 Total 271 RSC Anderlecht 183 110 73 Royal Excel Mouscron 89 73 16 Round 22 (20-22/01/2017) Distance Round 23 (24-26/01/2017) Distance Sporting Lokeren 230 76 154 KVC Westerlo KAS Eupen 117 Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron 59 KRC Genk 257 145 112 KAA Gent Club Brugge KV 49 Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège 93 STVV 188 116 72 YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren 37 KV Oostende KV Kortrijk 63 Waasland-Beveren 117 94 23 Standard de Liège KRC Genk 63 RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen 40 KAS Eupen 247 163 84 KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem 16 KRC Genk KVC Westerlo 55 Zulte Waregem 16 46 -30 Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende 73 Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent 47 Total 3249 1740 1509 Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht 54 KAS Eupen STVV 74 STVV Sporting Charleroi 88 Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren 53 Table 6-26: 4-Round Individual Total 497 Total 484 Distance Comparison 2016-2017 (Fairness 2) Table 6-25: 4-Round Special Period Schedule 2016-2017 (Fairness 2)

The same limit of 56km as the other seasons is used again for round 21. In the ascending distance matrix, 117km is found as the highest value in row 4 for KAS Eupen. Setting the limit for the other three rounds to 117km returns a feasible schedule.

Club Brugge KV has the biggest improvement over the actual schedule with 353km. KV Kortrijk also has a significant improvement with a reduction of 224km. Most other teams have a reduced travelling distance as well. Zulte Waregem and Standard de Liège must travel more in the new schedule. In the case of Zulte Waregem, this is mostly because they have three home games in the actual 4-round special period.

6.3. Fairness Approach 3: Limited Difference Between Teams Special Period 2-Round 4-Round Season Actual Improved Difference % Actual Improved Difference % 2018-2019 1779 948 831 0.47 3541 1672 1869 0.53 2017-2018 1735 943 792 0.46 3091 1884 1207 0.39 2016-2017 1847 913 934 0.51 3249 1700 1549 0.48

Table 6-27: Total Overall Distances & Comparison Approach 3

The improvements in total overall distance for the 2-special period are close to 50% for each of the three seasons. For the 4-round special periods, the improvements range from 39% for season 2017-2018 to 53% for season 2018-2019. The schedules for each season for both special periods are given below and for the total tournament in Appendix G.

Setting the limits for the difference in travelling distance between the teams was a bit arbitrary. For the 2-round special period, I assumed that a limit of 50km was reasonable and this returned a feasible schedule for all seasons. The question remains if this limit is acceptable and if it should be based on discussions with the stakeholders.

The limit for the 4-round special period was more based on trial & error. For each season, the limit started at 100km and I increased it with 10km when the model turned out to be infeasible within a couple minutes or a runtime of 1hour on the DOCplexcloud didn’t find a feasible solution (without giving an infeasibility warning).

6.3.1. 2-Round Special Period Season 2018-2019

Round 20 (21-23/12/2018) Distance Round 21 (26-27/12/2018) Distance Teams Actual Improved Difference Cercle Brugge KSV Zulte Waregem 53 Royal Antwerp KRC Genk 88 Royal Antwerp 109 44 66 Standard de Liège STVV 41 Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk 49 Club Brugge KV 72 59 13 KV Kortrijk KV Oostende 63 KAA Gent Cercle Brugge KSV 49 KAA Gent 147 47 100 Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht 56 KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron 73 Cercle Brugge KSV 49 49 0 Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV 59 RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren 57 Standard de Liège 93 46 47 Sporting Lokeren Royal Antwerp 44 STVV Sporting Charleroi 88 KV Kortrijk 160 49 111 KRC Genk KAS Eupen 82 KAS Eupen Standard de Liège 46 Sporting Charleroi 127 88 39 Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent 47 Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren 53 KV Oostende 215 63 152 RSC Anderlecht 103 56 47 Total 445 Total 503 Royal Excel Mouscron 119 73 46 Table 6-28: 2-Round Special Period Schedule 2018-2019 (Fairness 3) Sporting Lokeren 23 53 -30 KRC Genk 82 88 -6 The limit of 50km in the model results in a maximum difference of STVV 178 41 137 Waasland-Beveren 57 57 0 KAS Eupen 229 82 147 47km between KRC Genk and STVV in the schedule. Zulte Waregem 16 53 -37 Total 3541 948 831 Most teams see an improvement of their travelling distance Table 6-29: 2-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2018-2019 compared to the actual schedules. Sporting Lokeren, Zulte (Fairness 3) Waregem and KRC Genk have a larger distance.

Season 2017-2018

Round 20 (20-23/12/2017) Distance Round 21 (26-27/12/2017) Distance Teams Actual Improved Difference Royal Antwerp KAA Gent 67 Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem 53 Royal Antwerp 89 44 46 YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren 46 KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron 56 Club Brugge KV 123 49 74 KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV 49 Standard de Liège STVV 41 KAA Gent 51 67 -16 RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi 56 Sporting Charleroi YR KV Mechelen 90 YR KV Mechelen 46 90 -44 Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende 73 KV Oostende KV Kortrijk 63 Standard de Liège 197 46 151 STVV KRC Genk 42 Sporting Lokeren Royal Antwerp 44 KV Kortrijk 190 63 127 KAS Eupen Standard de Liège 46 KRC Genk KAS Eupen 82 Sporting Charleroi 229 56 173 Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren 78 Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht 57 KV Oostende 112 73 39 Total 457 Total 486 RSC Anderlecht 0 57 -57 Royal Excel Mouscron 59 56 3 Table 6-30: 2-Round Special Period Schedule 2017-2018 (Fairness 3) Sporting Lokeren 44 46 -2 KRC Genk 209 42 167 The maximum difference between two teams is 49km (YR KV STVV 41 41 0 Waasland-Beveren 167 78 89 KAS Eupen 148 82 66 Mechelen and STVV). Zulte Waregem 30 53 -23 Total 1735 943 792 Sporting Charleroi, KRC Genk, Standard de Liège and KV Kortrijk Table 6-31: 2-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2017-2018 show significant improvements over 100km compared to the actual (Fairness 3) schedule. On the other hand, RSC Anderlecht, YR KV Mechelen, Zulte Waregem, KAA Gent and Sporting Lokeren see an increased travelling distance. The biggest increase is not surprisingly for RSC Anderlecht as they had no away games during the special period in the actual schedule.

Season 2016-2017

Round 20 (20-22/12/2016) Distance Round 21 (26-27/12/2016) Distance Teams Actual Improved Difference KVC Westerlo Waasland-Beveren 65 YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht 40 KVC Westerlo 156 55 101 Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem 53 Standard de Liège KAS Eupen 46 Club Brugge KV 229 49 180 KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron 56 KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV 49 KAA Gent 147 47 100 KV Oostende KV Kortrijk 63 Sporting Charleroi STVV 88 YR KV Mechelen 106 46 60 RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi 56 Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende 73 Standard de Liège 41 41 0 Sporting Lokeren YR KV Mechelen 46 KRC Genk KVC Westerlo 55 KV Kortrijk 146 63 83 STVV Standard de Liège 41 Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent 47 Sporting Charleroi 90 56 34 KAS Eupen KRC Genk 82 Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren 53 KV Oostende 63 73 -10 Total 462 Total 451 RSC Anderlecht 107 40 67 Royal Excel Mouscron 59 56 3 Table 6-32: 2-Round Special Period Schedule 2016-2017 (Fairness 3) Sporting Lokeren 150 53 97 KRC Genk 175 82 93 The limit of 50km results in a maximum difference of 48km in the STVV 108 88 20 Waasland-Beveren 23 65 -42 KAS Eupen 247 46 201 schedule between STVV and RSC Anderlecht. Zulte Waregem 0 53 -53 Total 1847 913 934 Club Brugge has the biggest improvement over the actual schedule Table 6-33: 2-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2016-2017 with a reduction of 180km. Most other teams have an improvement (Fairness 3) as well. Zulte Waregem, Waasland-Beveren and KV Oostende must travel more compared to the actual schedule. In the case of Zulte Waregem this is unavoidable because they have 2 home matches in the actual schedule.

6.3.2. 4-Round Special Period Season 2018-2019

Round 20 (21-23/12/2018) Distance Round 21 (26-27/12/2018) Distance Teams Actual Improved Difference Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren 44 Club Brugge KV KAA Gent 49 Royal Antwerp 202 108 94 KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren 47 KV Kortrijk KV Oostende 63 Club Brugge KV 95 76 19 Cercle Brugge KSV KV Kortrijk 49 Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège 93 KAA Gent 196 100 96 Standard de Liège KAS Eupen 46 Royal Excel Mouscron Cercle Brugge KSV 59 Cercle Brugge KSV 143 59 84 KV Oostende Club Brugge KV 23 Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem 53 Standard de Liège 222 134 88 RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi 56 STVV RSC Anderlecht 80 KV Kortrijk 357 63 294 KRC Genk STVV 42 Waasland-Beveren Royal Antwerp 20 Sporting Charleroi 277 161 116 Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron 30 KAS Eupen KRC Genk 82 KV Oostende 288 86 202 Total 337 Total 499 RSC Anderlecht 154 137 17 Royal Excel Mouscron 319 103 216 Round 22 (18-20/01/2019) Distance Round 23 (25-27/01/2019) Distance Sporting Lokeren 207 69 139 Royal Antwerp Sporting Charleroi 105 Club Brugge KV Cercle Brugge KSV 0 KRC Genk 124 145 -21 Cercle Brugge KSV KV Oostende 23 KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren 25 STVV 338 116 222 Standard de Liège KRC Genk 63 KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem 16 Waasland-Beveren 173 70 103 RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent 51 Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen 130 KAS Eupen 377 176 201 Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk 14 KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron 73 Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren 23 KRC Genk Royal Antwerp 88 Zulte Waregem 69 69 0 KAS Eupen STVV 74 STVV Standard de Liège 41 Total 3541 1672 1869 Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV 53 Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht 57 Table 6-35: 4-Round Individual Total 406 Total 430 Distance Comparison 2018-2019 Table 6-34: 4-Round Special Period Schedule 2018-2019 (Fairness 3) (Fairness 3) By trial and error, the limit for the difference in the total travelling distance during the special period between each pair of teams is set at 120km. This results in a maximum difference of 117km between KAS Eupen and Cercle Brugge KSV in the schedule.

Except for Racing Genk and Zulte Waregem, each team has to travel a lot less compared to the actual schedule from the 2018-2019 season. KV Kortrijk has the most significant improvement with 294km.

Season 2017-2018

Round 20 (20-23/12/2017) Distance Round 21 (26-27/12/2017) Distance Teams Actual Improved Difference YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht 40 Royal Antwerp KRC Genk 88 Royal Antwerp 89 171 -82 Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège 93 Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem 53 Club Brugge KV 232 108 124 KV Oostende KAA Gent 67 KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren 25 KAA Gent 118 98 20 Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV 59 Standard de Liège KAS Eupen 46 YR KV Mechelen 115 97 18 Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren 23 KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron 14 Standard de Liège 378 134 244 KRC Genk STVV 42 RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi 56 KV Kortrijk 267 85 182 KAS Eupen Royal Antwerp 151 STVV YR KV Mechelen 69 Sporting Charleroi 359 146 213 Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk 16 Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende 112 KV Oostende 135 135 0 Total 491 Total 463 RSC Anderlecht 108 148 -40 Royal Excel Mouscron 183 87 96 Round 22 (19-21/01/2018) Distance Round 23 (23-25/01/2018) Distance Sporting Lokeren 69 79 -10 Royal Antwerp YR KV Mechelen 28 YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi 90 KRC Genk 335 151 184 Club Brugge KV KV Oostende 23 Standard de Liège KRC Genk 63 STVV 149 116 33 KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren 47 KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV 49 Waasland-Beveren 224 70 154 Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen 130 KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron 73 KAS Eupen 194 176 18 Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem 30 RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren 54 Zulte Waregem 136 83 53 Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk 69 Waasland-Beveren Royal Antwerp 20 Total 3091 1884 1207 KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht 108 KAS Eupen STVV 74 Table 6-37: 4-Round Individual STVV Standard de Liège 41 Zulte Waregem KAA Gent 31 Total 476 Total 454 Distance Comparison 2017-2018 (Fairness 3) Table 6-36: 4-Round Special Period Schedule 2017-2018 (Fairness 3)

Trial and error give a feasible solution for a limit of 120km. The resulting maximum difference between two teams is 115km for KAS Eupen and Zulte Waregem.

Most teams have an improvement in travelling distance compared to the actual schedule, except Royal Antwerp and RSC Anderlecht see an increase in their distances.

Season 2016-2017 The trial and error method gave no feasible solutions within one hour for values below 140km. However, if we look at the results from approach 1 for season 2016-2017, a maximum difference of 119km can be found. This implies that the third approach might not be that easy to solve for CPLEX.

6.4. Fairness Approach 4: Limited Travelling Distance per Team over Special Rounds As mentioned before, this approach is only applied to the 4-round special period as it would be no different than fairness approach 2 for the 2-round special period.

Special Period 4-Round Season Actual Improved Difference % 2018-2019 3541 1703 1838 52 2017-2018 3091 1746 1345 44 2016-2017 3249 1732 1517 47 Table 6-38: Total Overall Distances & Comparison: Approach 4

The biggest improvement can be seen for season 2018-2019 in table 3-38. A reduction in total overall travelling distance of 1838km equals an improvement of 52% compared to the actual schedule with a distance of 3541km during the 4-round special period. For season 2017-2018 the resulting decrease is 44% compared to the actual schedule. This is not as big as for the 2018-2019 season but is still a significant improvement. With 46%, season 2016-2017 lies between the two other seasons in terms of reduction in total travelling distance. The schedules for the 4 rounds in the special periods for each season are given below. Appendix H contains the schedules for the whole tournament.

Trial and error are used to find the limit for each of the instances as no specific method could be found. However, a couple steps can be followed to find the lowest possible limit for each of the seasons more easily:

Step 1: For each of the teams, take the sum of their two lowest distances in the ascending distance matrix. The largest distance among these resulting distances is a lower bound on the limit. In each of the three season this is 144km for Sporting Charleroi.

Step 2: Start by setting the limit in Cplex equal to the lower bound and try to solve model. If the model is infeasible, this will be indicated by Cplex within a runtime of at most 2 minutes.

Step 3: Add a value of 10 to the lower bound and try to solve again. Repeat this until no infeasibility is found within 2-3 minutes runtime.

Step 4: From this value, subtract 1 and run again. Repeat this until an infeasibility is given by Cplex. The last feasible value is than the lowest possible limit for that specific season.

As Cplex is capable to find infeasibilities relatively fast, the lowest possible limits for each season are found in a reasonable time by using the steps above.

2018-2019

Round 20 (21-23/12/2018) Distance Round 21 (26-27/12/2018) Distance Teams Actual Improved Difference Club Brugge KV KV Oostende 23 Royal Antwerp KRC Genk 88 Royal Antwerp 202 171 31 KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht 51 Cercle Brugge KSV Zulte Waregem 53 Club Brugge KV 95 49 46 Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège 93 Standard de Liège KAS Eupen 46 KAA Gent 196 127 69 Royal Excel Mouscron Cercle Brugge KSV 59 KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV 49 Cercle Brugge KSV 143 82 61 KRC Genk STVV 42 KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron 73 Standard de Liège 222 156 66 Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren 23 RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren 57 KV Kortrijk 357 30 327 KAS Eupen Royal Antwerp 151 Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent 25 Sporting Charleroi 277 144 133 Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk 16 STVV Sporting Charleroi 88 KV Oostende 288 86 202 Total 458 Total 479 RSC Anderlecht 154 105 49 Royal Excel Mouscron 319 103 216 Round 22 (18-20/01/2019) Distance Round 23 (25-27/01/2019) Distance Sporting Lokeren 207 67 141 Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem 53 Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren 44 KRC Genk 124 170 -46 Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent 102 KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren 47 STVV 338 83 255 KV Oostende Cercle Brugge KSV 23 Cercle Brugge KSV Club Brugge KV 0 Waasland-Beveren 173 104 69 Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk 14 Standard de Liège STVV 41 KAS Eupen 377 120 257 Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht 54 KV Kortrijk KV Oostende 63 Zulte Waregem 69 106 -37 KRC Genk Standard de Liège 63 RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi 56 Total 3541 1703 1838 STVV KAS Eupen 74 KAS Eupen KRC Genk 82 Waasland-Beveren Royal Antwerp 20 Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron 30 Table 6-39: 4-Round Individual Total 403 Total 363 Distance Comparison 2018-2019 Table 6-40: 4-Round Special Period Schedule 2018-2019 (Fairness 4) (Fairness 4) The lowest possible limit is 171km and is assigned to Royal Antwerp as the team that has to travel the longest distance. Setting the limit to 170km or lower makes the model infeasible.

The biggest improvements in travelling distance compared to the actual schedule is for KV Kortrijk with 327 km. KAS Eupen, STVV, Royal Excel Mouscron and KV Oostende also have significant reductions over 200km. Only KRC Genk and Zulte Waregem have a larger distance compared to the actual schedule, with an increase of 46km and 37km respectively.

2017-2018

Round 20 (21-23/12/2018) Distance Round 21 (26-27/12/2018) Distance Teams Actual Improved Difference Royal Antwerp YR KV Mechelen 28 KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren 25 Royal Antwerp 89 171 -82 Club Brugge KV KAA Gent 49 YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht 40 Club Brugge KV 232 76 156 KV Kortrijk KV Oostende 63 Standard de Liège KRC Genk 63 KAA Gent 118 116 2 RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi 56 Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron 124 YR KV Mechelen 115 74 41 Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem 30 KV Oostende Club Brugge KV 23 Standard de Liège 378 134 244 Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren 23 Waasland-Beveren Royal Antwerp 20 KV Kortrijk 267 65 202 KRC Genk KAS Eupen 82 KAS Eupen STVV 74 Sporting Charleroi 359 144 215 STVV Standard de Liège 41 Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk 16 KV Oostende 135 136 -1 Total 372 Total 385 RSC Anderlecht 108 97 11 Royal Excel Mouscron 183 138 45 Round 22 (18-20/01/2019) Distance Round 23 (25-27/01/2019) Distance Sporting Lokeren 69 79 -10 Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk 49 Royal Antwerp KRC Genk 88 KRC Genk 335 151 184 KAA Gent Zulte Waregem 31 YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren 37 STVV 149 116 33 Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège 93 Standard de Liège KAS Eupen 46 Waasland-Beveren 224 60 164 Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende 73 KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron 14 KAS Eupen 194 128 66 Sporting Lokeren YR KV Mechelen 46 KV Oostende KAA Gent 67 Zulte Waregem 136 61 75 KRC Genk STVV 42 RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren 54 Total 3091 1746 1345 Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht 57 STVV Sporting Charleroi 88 KAS Eupen Royal Antwerp 151 Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV 53 Table 6-41: 4-Round Individual Total 542 Total 447 Distance Comparison 2017-2018 (Fairness 4) Table 6-42: 4-Round Special Period Schedule 2017-2018 (Fairness 4)

The lowest possible limit is again equal to 171km and assigned to Royal Antwerp.

Royal Antwerp is also the team that sees its distance increasing by 82km in this approach. Sporting Lokeren and KV Oostende must also travel more compared to the actual schedule, but the difference is not that significant. Large improvements over 200km are seen for Standard de Liège, Sporting Charleroi and KV Kortrijk.

2016-2017

Round 20 (20-22/12/2016) Distance Round 21 (26-27/12/2016) Distance Teams Actual Improved Difference KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren 25 KVC Westerlo Waasland-Beveren 65 KVC Westerlo 192 153 39 YR KV Mechelen KVC Westerlo 36 Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk 49 Club Brugge KV 425 76 349 Standard de Liège KAS Eupen 46 KV Oostende KAA Gent 67 KAA Gent 172 116 56 KV Kortrijk KV Oostende 63 RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi 56 YR KV Mechelen 175 86 89 Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron 124 Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem 30 Standard de Liège 87 104 -17 KRC Genk STVV 42 Sporting Lokeren YR KV Mechelen 46 KV Kortrijk 336 65 271 Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht 57 STVV Standard de Liège 41 Sporting Charleroi 360 149 211 Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV 53 KAS Eupen KRC Genk 82 KV Oostende 175 136 39 Total 446 Total 436 RSC Anderlecht 183 111 72 Royal Excel Mouscron 89 138 -49 Round 22 (20-22/01/2017) Distance Round 23 (24-26/01/2017) Distance Sporting Lokeren 230 48 182 Club Brugge KV KAA Gent 49 KVC Westerlo KRC Genk 55 KRC Genk 257 137 120 Sporting Charleroi STVV 88 KAA Gent Zulte Waregem 31 STVV 188 130 58 RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen 40 YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren 37 Waasland-Beveren 117 102 15 Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende 73 Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi 93 KAS Eupen 247 120 127 KRC Genk Standard de Liège 63 KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron 14 Zulte Waregem 16 61 -45 Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren 23 KV Oostende Club Brugge KV 23 Total 3249 1732 1517 KAS Eupen KVC Westerlo 117 Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht 54 Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk 16 STVV KAS Eupen 74 Table 6-43: 4-Round Individual Total 469 Total 381 Distance Comparison 2016-2017 Table 6-44: 4-Round Special Period Schedule 2016-2017 (Fairness 4) (Fairness 4)

The trial and error method results in a limit of 153km. This is assigned to KVC Westerlo in the schedule.

Club Brugge KV has the most significant improvement over the actual schedule with a reduction of 349km. KV Kortrijk, Sporting Charleroi and Sporting Lokeren have large reductions as well, with values over or close to 200km. Increased distances are seen for Royal Excel Mouscron, Zulte Waregem and Standard de Liège. For Zulte Waregem this is unavoidable as they had only one away game in the actual special period.

6.5. Additional Approaches:

6.5.1. Additional Approach 1: Using the actual home-away patterns This additional approach is added because Cplex can’t solve the model in a reasonable runtime when the break constraints to limit the number of breaks per team are included. By using the home- away pattern for each team in the actual schedules, it is assured that the break requirements by the stakeholders are taken into account. In addition to this, requests by police forces, local governments or the teams to not have a home game on a specific round will also be included. This is because we can assume that these requests were considered when setting up the actual home- away patterns. These venue constraints could not be included in the model used for the other 4 approaches as there was no information available.

The model for this additional approach uses the same objective function and constraints 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9 that are explained in section 5. The following constraint is added to make sure that each team has the same home-away pattern as in the actual schedules:

∑풂 ∈ 푻 ∑풓 ∈푹(풙풉,풂,풓 ∗ 푷풉,풓) = ퟏퟓ ∀ 풉 ∈ 푻, 풉 ≠ 풂

The parameter Ph,r is an n x r (teams x rounds) matrix that represents the home-away patterns for the teams. The value on row A and column B in the matrix is equal to 1 when a team A has a home game on round B. An away game is indicated by a 0. The home-away patterns for each season are found in Appendix K. The sum of scheduled home matches multiplied by the home-away pattern must be equal to 15 because each team must have n-1 (=15) home games over the whole season. This makes sure that teams can only have a home match on a round that is indicated as a home round in the home-away pattern.

This additional approach can be compared with the actual schedules but also serves as a second benchmark to compare the four fairness approaches with.

Special Period 2-Round 4-Round Season Actual Improved Difference % Actual Improved Difference % 2018-2019 1779 840 939 53 3541 2300 1241 35 2017-2018 1735 1083 652 38 3091 2256 835 27 2016-2017 1847 912 935 51 3249 2171 1078 33 Table 6-45: Total Overall Distances & Comparison: Additional Approach 1

The improvements in total travelling distances over the actual schedules are substantial for the 2- round special period in seasons 2018-2019 and 2016-2017, with reductions of just over 50%. The reduction of 38% for 2017-2018 is lower than the other two seasons, but still a great improvement compared to the actual schedule. For the 4-round special periods the reductions are around 30% for the three seasons. These are remarkably lower than the improvements in the 2-round special periods. This indicates that the freedom for the model to assign matches to the special period gets more limited as more rounds are considered.

The schedules for the 2- and 4-round special periods for each season are given below and in Appendix I for all 30 rounds.

6.5.1.1. 2-Round Special Period

Season 2018-2019

Round 20 (21-23/12/2018) Distance Round 21 (26-27/12/2018) Distance Teams Actual Improved Difference Club Brugge KV Cercle Brugge KSV 0 Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren 20 Royal Antwerp 109 89 20 KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht 51 Cercle Brugge KSV Royal Excel Mouscron 59 Club Brugge KV 72 23 49 Standard de Liège KRC Genk 63 KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem 16 KAA Gent 147 25 122 Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk 14 Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège 93 Cercle Brugge KSV 49 0 49 Standard de Liège 93 93 0 STVV Royal Antwerp 89 KV Oostende Club Brugge KV 23 KV Kortrijk 160 14 146 Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren 23 RSC Anderlecht STVV 80 Sporting Charleroi 127 130 -3 KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi 130 Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent 25 KV Oostende 215 72 143 Zulte Waregem KV Oostende 72 KRC Genk KAS Eupen 82 RSC Anderlecht 103 51 52 Total 442 Total 398 Royal Excel Mouscron 119 59 60 Table 6-46: 2-Round Special Period Schedule 2018-2019 (Additional Approach Sporting Lokeren 23 23 0 KRC Genk 82 63 19 1) STVV 178 80 98 Waasland-Beveren 57 20 37 KAS Eupen 229 82 147 Sporting Charleroi is the only team that has an increased distance Zulte Waregem 16 16 0 compared to the actual schedule. The increase of 3km is however Total 1779 840 939 Table 6-47: 2-Round Individual very low. Standard de Liège, Sporting Lokeren and Zulte Waregem Distance Comparison 2018-2019 (Additional Approach 1) have the same distance as in the actual schedule. The other teams all have an improvement with substantial reductions for KAA Gent, KV Kortrijk, KV Oostende and KAS Eupen.

Season 2017-2018

Round 20 (20-23/12/2017) Distance Round 21 (26-27/12/2017) Distance Teams Actual Improved Difference Royal Antwerp KV Oostende 128 Club Brugge KV Royal Antwerp 109 Royal Antwerp 89 109 -20 KAA Gent Zulte Waregem 31 KV Kortrijk KAA Gent 46 Club Brugge KV 123 94 29 YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren 46 KV Oostende KRC Genk 209 KAA Gent 51 46 5 Standard de Liège STVV 41 RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen 40 YR KV Mechelen 46 40 6 RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi 56 Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren 23 Standard de Liège 197 46 151 Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk 14 STVV Sporting Charleroi 88 KV Kortrijk 190 14 176 KRC Genk KAS Eupen 82 KAS Eupen Standard de Liège 46 Sporting Charleroi 229 144 85 Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV 94 Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron 30 KV Oostende 112 128 -16 Total 492 Total 591 RSC Anderlecht 0 0 0 Royal Excel Mouscron 59 30 29 Table 6-48: 2-Round Special Period Schedule 2017-2018 (Additional Approach Sporting Lokeren 44 46 -2 1) KRC Genk 209 209 0 STVV 41 41 0 Waasland-Beveren 167 23 144 Significant improvements over the actual schedule can be seen for KAS Eupen 148 82 66 Zulte Waregem 30 31 -1 KV Kortrijk, Standard de Liège and Waasland-Beveren. The Total 1735 1083 652 Table 6-49: 2-Round Individual distances for Royal Antwerp, KV Oostende, Sporting Lokeren and Distance Comparison 2017-2018 Zulte Waregem are slightly larger than in the actual schedules. (Additional Approach 1) Notice that RSC Anderlecht has no travelling distance in both schedules as their home-away pattern remains the same.

Season 2016-2017

Round 20 (20-22/12/2016) Distance Round 21 (26-27/12/2016) Distance Teams Actual Improved Difference KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren 25 KVC Westerlo YR KV Mechelen 36 KVC Westerlo 156 65 91 YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi 90 Club Brugge KV KAA Gent 49 Club Brugge KV 229 53 176 Standard de Liège KRC Genk 63 Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht 56 KAA Gent 147 49 98 KV Kortrijk KV Oostende 63 KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron 73 YR KV Mechelen 106 36 70 Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht 103 Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren 23 Standard de Liège 41 41 0 Waasland-Beveren KVC Westerlo 65 KRC Genk KAS Eupen 82 KV Kortrijk 146 16 130 KAS Eupen STVV 74 STVV Standard de Liège 41 Sporting Charleroi 90 90 0 Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV 53 Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk 16 KV Oostende 63 63 0 Total 536 Total 376 RSC Anderlecht 107 159 -52 Royal Excel Mouscron 59 73 -14 Table 6-50: 2-Round Special Period Schedule 2016-2017 (Additional Approach Sporting Lokeren 150 25 125 1) KRC Genk 175 63 112 STVV 108 74 34 Waasland-Beveren 23 23 0 Reductions in travelling distance over 100km compared to the KAS Eupen 247 82 165 Zulte Waregem 0 0 0 actual schedule are found for Club Brugge KV, KAS Eupen, KV Total 1847 912 935 Kortrijk, Sporting Lokeren and KRC Genk. Two teams have an Table 6-51: 2-Round Individual Distance Comparison 2016-2017 increased travelling distance: RSC Anderlecht and Royal Excel (Additional Approach 1) Mouscron. Note that Zulte Waregem has two home rounds in the home away pattern resulting in a distance value of 0 in both schedules.

6.5.1.2. 4-Round Special Period 2018-2019

Round 20 (21-23/12/2018) Distance Round 21 (26-27/12/2018) Distance Teams Actual Improved Difference Club Brugge KV KV Oostende 23 Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège 129 Royal Antwerp 202 240 -38 KAA Gent Cercle Brugge KSV 49 Cercle Brugge KSV Zulte Waregem 53 Club Brugge KV 95 72 23 Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi 93 KV Kortrijk KAA Gent 46 KAA Gent 196 113 83 Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht 103 Sporting Charleroi STVV 88 Cercle Brugge KSV 143 108 35 STVV KRC Genk 42 KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron 73 Standard de Liège 222 279 -57 Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren 23 RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen 148 KV Kortrijk 357 65 292 KAS Eupen Royal Antwerp 151 Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV 72 Sporting Charleroi 277 223 54 Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk 16 KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren 107 KV Oostende 288 95 193 Total 500 Total 716 RSC Anderlecht 154 160 -6 Royal Excel Mouscron 319 87 232 Round 22 (18-20/01/2019) Distance Round 23 (25-27/01/2019) Distance Sporting Lokeren 207 48 159 Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk 49 Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren 20 KRC Genk 124 105 19 KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren 25 Cercle Brugge KSV Club Brugge KV 0 STVV 338 168 170 Standard de Liège KRC Genk 63 KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron 14 Waasland-Beveren 173 127 46 Royal Excel Mouscron Cercle Brugge KSV 59 Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem 127 KAS Eupen 377 230 147 STVV Royal Antwerp 89 KV Oostende KAA Gent 67 Zulte Waregem 69 180 -111 Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht 57 RSC Anderlecht STVV 80 Total 3541 2300 1241 KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi 130 Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège 150 Zulte Waregem KV Oostende 72 KRC Genk KAS Eupen 82 Table 6-53: 4-Round Individual Total 544 Total 540 Distance Comparison 2018-2019 (Additional Approach 1) Table 6-52: 4-Round Special Period Schedule 2018-2019 (Additional Approach 1)

Significant improvements are noted for KV Kortrijk, Royal Excel Mouscron and KV Oostende. On the other hand, Zulte Waregem has to travel 111km more compared to the actual schedule, which can be seen as a big deterioration. Royal Antwerp, Standard de Liège and RSC Anderlecht also have an increase in travel distance, but it is more reasonable compared to Zulte Waregem.

2017-2018

Round 20 (20-23/12/2017) Distance Round 21 (26-27/12/2017) Distance Teams Actual Improved Difference Royal Antwerp Club Brugge KV 109 Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren 94 Royal Antwerp 89 44 46 KAA Gent KV Kortrijk 46 KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron 14 Club Brugge KV 232 158 74 YR KV Mechelen STVV 69 KV Oostende KRC Genk 209 KAA Gent 118 87 31 Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi 93 RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen 40 YR KV Mechelen 115 68 47 RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren 54 Sporting Lokeren Royal Antwerp 44 Standard de Liège 378 87 291 Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem 30 STVV Standard de Liège 41 KV Kortrijk 267 125 142 KRC Genk KAS Eupen 82 KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi 130 Sporting Charleroi 359 311 48 Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende 112 Zulte Waregem KAA Gent 31 KV Oostende 135 135 0 Total 595 Total 603 RSC Anderlecht 108 117 -9 Royal Excel Mouscron 183 138 45 Round 22 (19-21/01/2018) Distance Round 23 (23-25/01/2018) Distance Sporting Lokeren 69 100 -31 Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen 151 Royal Antwerp YR KV Mechelen 28 KRC Genk 335 317 18 KAA Gent Club Brugge KV 49 Club Brugge KV KV Oostende 23 STVV 149 111 38 YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren 46 RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk 108 Waasland-Beveren 224 117 107 Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht 117 Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent 56 KAS Eupen 194 233 -39 Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron 124 Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren 23 Zulte Waregem 136 108 28 KV Oostende KV Kortrijk 63 STVV Sporting Charleroi 88 Total 3091 2256 836 KRC Genk STVV 42 KAS Eupen Standard de Liège 46 Table 6-55: 4-Round Individual Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem 78 Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk 16 Total 670 Total 388 Distance Comparison 2017-2018 (Additional Approach 1) Table 6-54: 4-Round Special Period Schedule 2017-2018 (Additional Approach 1)

Standard de Liège has the largest reduction in travelling distance with 291km. KV Kortrijk and Waasland-Beveren also have a large improvement over 100km compared to the actual schedule. KAS Eupen, Sporting Lokeren and RSC Anderlecht have a reasonable increase in their travelling distance.

Season 2016-2017

Round 20 (20-22/12/2016) Distance Round 21 (26-27/12/2016) Distance Teams Actual Improved Difference KAA Gent KV Oostende 67 KVC Westerlo KAS Eupen 117 KVC Westerlo 192 101 91 YR KV Mechelen KVC Westerlo 36 Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk 49 Club Brugge KV 425 102 323 Standard de Liège KRC Genk 63 Sporting Charleroi YR KV Mechelen 90 KAA Gent 172 56 116 KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren 69 KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht 113 YR KV Mechelen 175 200 -25 Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi 124 Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent 25 Standard de Liège 87 87 0 Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht 57 KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren 107 KV Kortrijk 336 112 224 KAS Eupen STVV 74 STVV Standard de Liège 41 Sporting Charleroi 360 268 92 Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV 53 Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron 30 KV Oostende 175 140 35 Total 543 Total 572 RSC Anderlecht 183 246 -63 Royal Excel Mouscron 89 89 0 Round 22 (20-22/01/2017) Distance Round 23 (24-26/01/2017) Distance Sporting Lokeren 230 219 11 KAA Gent Club Brugge KV 49 KVC Westerlo RSC Anderlecht 76 KRC Genk 257 145 112 YR KV Mechelen STVV 69 Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron 59 STVV 188 143 45 Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren 150 KV Oostende KV Kortrijk 63 Waasland-Beveren 117 130 -13 KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem 16 Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren 23 KAS Eupen 247 117 130 RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi 56 KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen 110 Zulte Waregem 16 16 0 Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende 73 STVV Sporting Charleroi 88 Total 3249 2171 1078 Waasland-Beveren KVC Westerlo 65 KAS Eupen Standard de Liège 46 Table 6-57: 4-Round Individual KAS Eupen KRC Genk 82 Zulte Waregem KAA Gent 31 Distance Comparison 2016-2017 Total 560 Total 496 (Additional Approach 1) Table 6-56: 4-Round Special Period Schedule 2016-2017 (Additional Approach 1)

Club Brugge KV has a large reduction in travelling distance of 323km compared to the actual schedule. KV Kortrijk also has a significant improvement with 224km. RSC Anderlecht, YR KV Mechelen and Waasland-Beveren have an increased distance value.

6.5.2. Additional Approach 2: Combining Approach 2 and 4 Looking at the results for approach 4, more specifically at the distances in the Christmas round, shows that the individual distances for the teams could be improved. For example, in the 2017- 2018 season (see table 6-42) Royal Excel Mouscron has to travel 124km on round 21 which can be seen as too much as stakeholders might prefer a limited distance on that round.

This additional approach combines constraint 10 from approach 2, to limit distance on round 21 to a specific value, with constraint 12 from approach 4, that limits the total allowed travelling distance over the special period for each team. This is only applied to the 4-round special period as is the case in approach 4.

Special Period 4-Round Season Actual Improved Difference % 2018-2019 3541 1703 1838 52 2017-2018 3091 1746 1345 44 2016-2017 3249 1742 1507 46 Table 6-58: Total Overall Distances & Comparison: Additional Approach 2

The overall travelling distances are almost the same as the ones in approach 4, only the distance in season 2016-2017 has increased by 10km. The resulting schedules for the special period in the three seasons are given below and in Appendix J for the whole tournament.

Season 2018-2019

Round 20 (21-23/12/2018) Distance Round 21 (26-27/12/2018) Distance Teams Actual Improved Difference Cercle Brugge KSV Club Brugge KV 0 Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren 44 Royal Antwerp 202 171 31 Standard de Liège STVV 41 Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem 53 Club Brugge KV 95 59 36 Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent 102 KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren 47 KAA Gent 196 153 43 Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende 73 KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron 14 Cercle Brugge KSV 143 72 71 Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht 54 KV Oostende Cercle Brugge KSV 23 Standard de Liège 222 109 113 KRC Genk KAS Eupen 82 RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi 56 KV Kortrijk 357 79 278 Waasland-Beveren Royal Antwerp 20 STVV KRC Genk 42 Sporting Charleroi 277 149 128 Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk 16 KAS Eupen Standard de Liège 46 KV Oostende 288 96 192 Total 388 Total 325 RSC Anderlecht 154 111 43 Royal Excel Mouscron 319 44 275 Round 22 (18-20/01/2019) Distance Round 23 (25-27/01/2019) Distance Sporting Lokeren 207 69 139 Club Brugge KV KV Oostende 23 Royal Antwerp KRC Genk 88 KRC Genk 124 130 -6 KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren 25 Cercle Brugge KSV Zulte Waregem 53 STVV 338 129 209 KV Kortrijk Cercle Brugge KSV 49 Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi 93 Waasland-Beveren 173 70 103 Sporting Charleroi STVV 88 KV Oostende KV Kortrijk 63 KAS Eupen 377 156 221 KRC Genk Standard de Liège 63 RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent 51 Zulte Waregem 69 106 -37 Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht 57 Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV 59 Total 3541 1703 1838 KAS Eupen Royal Antwerp 151 Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren 23 Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron 30 STVV KAS Eupen 74 Table 6-60: 4-Round Individual Total 486 Total 504 Distance Comparison 2018-2019 Table 6-59: 4-Round Special Period Schedule 2018-2019 (Additional Approach (Additional Approach 2) 2) The limits used remain the same as in approach 2 and 4: 56km for round 21 and a maximum of 171km over the 4 rounds.

KRC Genk and Zulte Waregem are the only teams that see an increase in travelling distance compared to the actual schedule. All the other teams have an improvement with a maximum of 278km for KV Kortrijk.

Season 2017-2018

Round 20 (20-23/12/2017) Distance Round 21 (26-27/12/2017) Distance Teams Actual Improved Difference Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem 53 Royal Antwerp YR KV Mechelen 28 Royal Antwerp 89 171 -82 KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren 25 Standard de Liège KAS Eupen 46 Club Brugge KV 232 72 160 YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht 40 KV Oostende Club Brugge KV 23 KAA Gent 118 98 20 KV Kortrijk KV Oostende 63 RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi 56 YR KV Mechelen 115 74 41 Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron 124 Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk 14 Standard de Liège 378 104 274 STVV Standard de Liège 41 Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren 23 KV Kortrijk 267 63 204 Waasland-Beveren Royal Antwerp 20 KRC Genk STVV 42 Sporting Charleroi 359 149 210 KAS Eupen KRC Genk 82 Zulte Waregem KAA Gent 31 KV Oostende 135 136 -1 Total 448 Total 263 RSC Anderlecht 108 97 11 Royal Excel Mouscron 183 154 29 Round 22 (19-21/01/2018) Distance Round 23 (23-25/01/2018) Distance Sporting Lokeren 69 79 -10 Royal Antwerp KRC Genk 88 KAA Gent Club Brugge KV 49 KRC Genk 335 170 165 Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk 49 YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren 37 STVV 149 130 19 Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi 93 KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem 16 Waasland-Beveren 224 60 164 KV Oostende KAA Gent 67 Sporting Charleroi STVV 88 KAS Eupen 194 120 74 Sporting Lokeren YR KV Mechelen 46 RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren 54 Zulte Waregem 136 69 67 STVV KAS Eupen 74 Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende 73 Total 3091 1746 1345 Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht 57 KRC Genk Standard de Liège 63 Table 6-62: 4-Round Individual Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron 30 KAS Eupen Royal Antwerp 151 Total 504 Total 531 Distance Comparison 2017-2018 (Additional Approach 2) Table 6-61: 4-Round Special Period Schedule 2017-2018 (Additional Approach 2)

The limits are again set at 56km for round 21 and 177km for the total special period.

Royal Antwerp has a significant increase in travelling distance compared to the actual schedule. Sporting Lokeren and KV Oostende also have a (small) increase in distance. All other teams have an improvement compared to the actual schedule.

Season 2016-2017

Round 20 (20-22/12/2016) Distance Round 21 (26-27/12/2016) Distance Teams Actual Improved Difference KVC Westerlo Waasland-Beveren 65 Club Brugge KV KV Oostende 23 KVC Westerlo 192 153 39 KAA Gent Club Brugge KV 49 YR KV Mechelen KVC Westerlo 36 Club Brugge KV 425 98 327 KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem 16 Standard de Liège KAS Eupen 46 KAA Gent 172 78 94 Sporting Charleroi YR KV Mechelen 90 RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi 56 YR KV Mechelen 175 136 39 KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron 73 Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk 14 Standard de Liège 87 104 -17 Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht 54 KRC Genk STVV 42 KV Kortrijk 336 77 259 STVV Standard de Liège 41 Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren 23 Sporting Charleroi 360 149 211 KAS Eupen KRC Genk 82 Zulte Waregem KAA Gent 31 KV Oostende 175 90 85 Total 470 Total 271 RSC Anderlecht 183 94 89 Royal Excel Mouscron 89 132 -43 Round 22 (20-22/01/2017) Distance Round 23 (24-26/01/2017) Distance Sporting Lokeren 230 76 154 KVC Westerlo KRC Genk 55 Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron 59 KRC Genk 257 137 120 KAA Gent KV Oostende 67 YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht 40 STVV 188 130 58 Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi 93 Sporting Charleroi STVV 88 Waasland-Beveren 117 122 -5 KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV 49 KV Oostende KV Kortrijk 63 RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren 57 KRC Genk Standard de Liège 63 KAS Eupen 247 120 127 Zulte Waregem 16 46 -30 Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem 30 Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent 47 Sporting Lokeren YR KV Mechelen 46 KAS Eupen KVC Westerlo 117 Total 3249 1742 1507 STVV KAS Eupen 74 Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren 53 Table 6-64: 4-Round Individual Total 471 Total 530 Distance Comparison 2016-2017 Table 6-63: 4-Round Special Period Schedule 2016-2017 (Additional Approach (Additional Approach 2) 2)

The same limit of 56km used in approach 2 is set for round 21. The limit for the overall special period is also the same as the one in approach 4, with 153km.

The biggest improvement compared to the actual schedule is seen for Club Brugge KV with 327km. Most other teams have a reduced distance as well. Royal Excel Mouscron, Zulte Waregem, Standard de Liège and Waasland-Beveren are the four teams that must travel more in the new schedule compared to the actual schedule.

7. Discussion

The results listed in section 6 are not easy to interpret by just looking at the tables. Therefore, an analysis of the results is done for each season. Comparing them per season will allow to find the strengths and weaknesses for the various approaches. Both the 2-round and 4-round special periods are discussed.

For each instance, the overall values for all teams together will be given for the total travelling distance during the special period, the improvements over the actual schedule (absolute and percentual) and the total distance in round 21. The following values will be given by looking at the individual teams: the maximum distance travelled by a team both over the total special period and on round 21, the maximum difference between a pair of teams and the maximum reduction and increase of an individual team’s travelling distance. For the 4-round special periods, the maximum distance a single team has to travel on one of the four rounds is also included.

7.1. Season 2018-2019

Table 7-1 lists the resulting values for the approaches in the 2-round special period case. All approaches deliver significant improvements over the actual schedule in terms of total overall travelling distance. Approach 1 reduces the overall distance with 1109km, which is equal to a 62% reduction. A 60% reduction is achieved with Approach 2. Fairness Approach 3 results in a distance of 948km. This is the lowest improvement compared to the actual schedule with 47%. Taking the actual home-away patterns into account in Additional Approach 1 reduces the distance by 53%. So, if an overall minimization would be the main objective for the Pro League while setting up the schedule for the special period, Approach 1 offers the best results closely followed by Approach 2.

As Christmas round 21 is considered as the preferred round to have the lowest travelling distance, the individual and overall distances on that round must be looked at. Approach 2 offers the best results for both values, with 279km for the overall distance and 56km as the maximum individual distance assigned to Sporting Charleroi (see table 6-15). Not surprisingly as limiting the distance

for each team on round 21 was one of the constraints used in that approach. Approach 1 offers the second-best results for the overall distance value on round 21, but the value is 112km larger compared to approach 2. For the individual distance on round 21, Approach 3 has the second-best value with 88 km. Again, considerably larger than the value in approach 2.

Approach 3 has the lowest maximum distance for an individual team: no team must travel more than 88km. Approach 2 is close second with 92km. The lowest maximum difference between two teams is also for Approach 3, again followed by Approach 2 as second but with a significant gap of 46km.

Approach 2 might offer the preferred schedule. All values are the, or close to the, best alternatives, except for the maximum difference between two teams being remarkably larger than the lowest value. However, it must be noted that the freedom for the model to assign opponents is limited. The limit for the travelling distance in round 21 is set at 56km, which results in Sporting Charleroi and RSC Anderlecht having a match. This will always be the case when because 56km is the lowest value for Sporting Charleroi in the distance matrix. The same can be said about round 20 with a 93km limit: Charleroi will always be paired with Standard de Liège.

Overall Values Individual Team Values Total Distance Improvement % R21 Distance Max Distance SP Max Distance 1R Max Distance R21 Max Difference Max Reduction Max Increase Fairness Approach 1 1672 1869 53 455 193 130 130 166 327 14 Fairness Approach 2 1672 1869 53 279 212 130 56 153 294 27 Fairness Approach 3 1672 1869 53 499 176 130 93 117 294 21 Fairness Approach 4 1703 1838 52 479 171 151 88 141 327 46 Additional Approach 1 2300 1241 35 716 279 151 148 231 292 111 Additional Approach 2 1703 1838 52 325 171 151 56 127 278 37 Table 7-2: 4-Round Special Period Results Comparison: Season 2018-2019

The resulting values for the 4-round special period are listed in table 6-2. All four fairness approaches and Additional Approach 2 show similar improvements in the total overall travelling distance compared to the actual schedule. Approach 1,2 and 3 show the lowest total distance but Approach 4 and Additional approach 2 are only slightly higher by 31km. Additional Approach 1 has a distance of 2300km which is around 600km more than the other 5 approaches. This indicates that Additional Approach 1 is more limited in assigning teams to the matches because for each round, 8 matches must be scheduled by choosing from the 8 teams that are already assigned as home teams and an equal amount assigned as away team.

The Christmas round has again the lowest overall and individual value in Approach 2, with 279km and 56km respectively. However, Additional Approach 2 uses the same limit for round 21 and thus has the same value of 56km. Approach 4 has the second lowest distances for both measures: for the overall distance on round 21 an increase of exactly 200km is significant compared to the 279km

in Approach 2; the individual value on round 21 is 33km larger than the lowest measures of 56km. Approach 3 has values a little higher than Approach 4.

The lowest overall distance for a single team is achieved by Approach 4 and Additional Approach 2: Royal Antwerp has to travel 171km for their 2 scheduled away games during the 4 rounds of the special period. The other 3 fairness approaches also have acceptable values, ranging from 176km for approach 3 to 212km for approach 2. Additional Approach 1 has a much higher value with 279km.

Fairness approaches 1,2 and 3 have the same maximum distance of 130km that a team must travel on a single round. The other three approaches have a slightly higher measure of 151km. The lowest difference in distance between two teams is not surprisingly for Approach 3 with 117km. Additional Approach 2 has a value only 10km higher. The other fairness approaches have values around 150km. The value for Additional Approach 1 rises to 231km.

Each of the approaches has significant maximum improvement in the distance for and individual team compared to the original schedule. The values for each approach are around 300km. No team has an excessive increase in their distance compared to the actual schedule in the four fairness approaches or Additional Approach 2. In Additional Approach 1 however, a maximum increase of 111 (see table 6-52) km for Zulte Waregem can be seen as a large deterioration.

If the main goal is to have the least possible total travelling distance over the special period, than the choice will be between Fairness Approaches 2 and 3. The choice between these two than depends if a limited distance on round 21 is more important than having a lower maximum distance a team has to travel on a single round together with a limited maximum difference between two teams. However, when looking at the values of Additional Approach 2 it’s clear that they are always the, or near to the, best value in each column. So, this might be the best choice for scheduling the special period in season 2018-2019. It should again be noted that setting limits fixes some pairs of teams that will have a match with each other. Because of the 56km limit, Sporting Charleroi will always have a match against Standard de Liège. The same can be said about Royal Antwerp: they will always have an away game against KAS Eupen and Waasland-Beveren because of the 171km distance limit over the four rounds.

7.2. Season 2017-2018

Overall Values Individual Team Values Total Distance Improvement % R21 Distance Max Distance SP Max Distance R21 Max Difference Max Reduction Max Increase Fairness Approach 1 688 1047 60 263 90 56 76 176 54 Fairness Approach 2 688 1047 60 263 90 56 76 174 56 Fairness Approach 3 943 792 46 486 90 90 49 167 57 Additional Approach 1 1083 652 38 591 209 209 209 176 20 Table 7-3: 2-Round Special Period Results Comparison: Season 2017-2018 By looking at the values in table 7-3 it is clear that Fairness Approaches 1 and 2 have the best values on almost all measures. Note that even if these measures are mostly the same, the max reduction and increase are different which indicates that there is some flexibility in the assignment of teams to matches. Looking at the schedules for Approach 1 (see table 6-4) and Approach 2 (see table 6-17) reveals that the home-away patterns in the two special rounds are difference for some teams, but the opponents remain the same. The flexibility is thus mainly applicable to the patterns, which can be seen as a positive characteristic for both approaches. This increases the practical applicability when more detailed real-life pattern requirements are to be considered.

Approach 2 can be preferred over Approach 1 as there is no way to guarantee in the first approach that the minimum distance is assigned to round 21. In this case it just happened to be assigned like this by Cplex. Again, note that Approach 2 will always have some matches that are fixed due to the limits that are set: the limit of 90km in round 20 fixes a match between YR KV Mechelen and Sporting Charleroi; the 56km limit again fixes a match of Sporting Charleroi versus RSC Anderlecht.

Approach 3 reduces the max difference between teams to 49km but at the cost of an increased overall distance of 943km. It can be debated if this trade-off is actually worthwhile especially since the decision on an acceptable difference also depends on the (not yet asked) opinion of the stakeholders.

Additional Approach 1 has the worst results in almost all measures except for the max reduction and increase. This again indicates the limited possibilities when the actual home-away pattern must be followed.

Overall Values Individual Team Values Total Distance Improvement % R21 Distance Max Distance SP Max Distance 1R Max Distance R21 Max Difference Max Reduction Max Increase Fairness Approach 1 1704 1387 45 413 186 130 124 140 222 43 Fairness Approach 2 1704 1387 45 293 223 130 56 180 274 14 Fairness Approach 3 1884 1207 39 463 176 151 112 106 244 82 Fairness Approach 4 1746 1345 44 385 171 151 124 111 244 82 Additional Approach 1 2256 835 27 603 311 209 209 267 291 39 Additional Approach 2 1746 1345 44 263 171 151 56 111 274 82 Table 7-4: 4-Round Special Period Results Comparison: Season 2017-2018

Table 7-4 shows that Fairness Approaches 1,2 and 4 together with Additional Approach 2 show the best improvements in total overall travelling distance over the 4 special rounds compared to the actual schedule.

Additional Approach 2 again has values that are equal or close the best measures in each column. Remarkably, it even has a better overall distance on round 21 compared to Fairness Approach 2. So, it can be argued that this additional approach might be the preferred choice. Again, setting the limits for round 21 and the total for each team over the 4 rounds will always cause some matches that have to be scheduled. These matches are the same as in season 2018-2019 because the limits are equal as well.

Taking the actual home-away patterns into account in Additional Approach 1 results in a relatively small decrease of 22% in overall distance.

7.3. Season 2016-2017

Overall Values Individual Team Values Total Distance Improvement % R21 Distance Max Distance SP Max Distance R21 Max Difference Max Reduction Max Increase Fairness Approach 1 718 1129 61 341 93 73 79 180 16 Fairness Approach 2 741 1106 60 271 90 56 76 206 31 Fairness Approach 3 913 934 51 451 88 88 48 201 53 Additional Approach 1 912 935 51 376 159 82 159 176 52 Table 7-5: 2-Round Special Period Results Comparison: Season 2016-2017

Table 6-5 shows that Fairness Approach 1 and 2 have the lowest overall distance again with 718km and 741km, respectively. Approach 2 might be preferred again because the distance in round 21 is limited to 56km. Again, note that Sporting Charleroi will always play RSC Anderlecht with this limit. The limit of 90km on round 20 again fixes the assignment of a match between Sporting Charleroi and YR KV Mechelen.

Fairness Approach 3 has an improvement over the actual schedule of 10% less compared to the first two approaches. As most values, except the max difference, are close to the other two fairness approaches as well, this again seems to be an unbeneficial trade-off.

Overall Values Individual Team Values Total Distance Improvement % R21 Distance Max Distance SP Max Distance 1R Max Distance R21 Max Difference Max Reduction Max Increase Fairness Approach 1 1700 1549 48 455 180 130 93 119 323 47 Fairness Approach 2 1740 1509 46 271 254 117 56 193 323 69 Fairness Approach 3 //// / / / /// Fairness Approach 4 1732 1517 46 436 153 124 82 105 349 49 Additional Approach 1 2171 1078 33 572 268 150 117 252 323 63 Additional Approach 2 1742 1507 46 271 153 117 56 107 327 43

Table 7-6: 4-Round Special Period Results Comparison: Season 2016-2017

Fairness Approach 1,2, 4 and Additional Approach 2 again have the lowest total overall distances with only a small difference between them. Additional Approach 1 has a significantly lower

improvement compared to the other approaches. Note that Fairness Approach 3 has no values as cplex was not able to find a feasible solution under a limit of 140km, while Approach 1, 4 and Additional Approach 2 all have a maximum difference below 120km. This indicates that Approach 3 needs some rework or is just not suited to handle this type of problem.

Additional Approach 2 again shows the best values in 4 of the measures and values close to the best for the others. This approach can be seen as the preferred choice again, taking into account the fixed matches due to the limits that are set.

8. Conclusion

The objective of this research was to find in a reduction in travelling distance during special periods in the Belgian first division of football, or Jupiler Pro League. By using previous research and methods an integer programming model was setup and solved by using Cplex. The model can produce a schedule for the whole tournament, while minimizing the travelling distance for teams during a 2- or 4-round special period. Several important constraints that could be found in the literature are also taken into account. It must be noted that the requirements and constraints concerning a limitation of the breaks are not included, as it apparently made the model to difficult to solve in a reasonable runtime.

Comparison of the results with the distances in the actual used schedules for the seasons under review makes clear that significant improvements are possible. The main reason for this is that little to no effort is currently done to include some distance limitation during the special periods.

Aside from a basic minimization of the total overall travelling distance during the special periods, other approaches are included that could produce a fairer and more preferred schedule.

A specified limited travelling distance allowed for each team on each of the special rounds resulted in similar total distances during the special period as the basis minimization. Because the other measures turned out to be positive as well, especially in the 2-round special periods, the resulting schedule from this approach could be seen as one of the preferred. This is only reinforced by the fact that the method of finding the suitable limits for each round is fast and straightforward. However, setting the limits to a low value results in some matches between specific opponents being unavoidable. It is reasonable to assume that is not favoured by the Pro League, who is responsible for a fair tournament for all teams.

Setting a limited to difference in distance between teams during the special period turned out to be an inconsistent approach. The results varied quite a lot between the various instances, if a solution could even be found. Choosing an acceptable limit as a maximum difference was also arbitrary as no information or opinions from the stakeholders was available.

Limiting the travelling distance per team over the 4-rounds of the special periods gave some good results as well especially when combined with a limitation in individual travelling distance for each team on the Christmas round. This assured that no team has an excessive distance over the whole period while simultaneously assigning a low travelling distance for each team on the round on which

fans, staff and players want to spend time with family. The same remark must be made as the other approach, that the limits fix specified matches between two teams. Also, no clear method could be found to decide on the limit for the distance over the special period. Having to use trial and error to find the lowest possible bound can be seen as a disadvantage.

Because the break constraints could not be incorporated, an additional approach was included that took the actual home-away patterns used in the seasons under review, into account. This made sure that the actual break requirements by the stakeholders are considered. The resulting schedules also showed improvements over the actual schedules, but not as much as the other approaches. This additional approach could be used in cases were the home-away patterns of the teams have to be decided first before the opponents on each round are scheduled, but the results will always be limited compared to the other approaches.

Limitations and future research A limitation of this research is that no approach is found that results in a schedule that will immediately be accepted by the Pro League. The decision on which approach is best depends on the opinion of the stakeholders and where their preference lies: in total minimization or a fairer schedule based on several measures. Therefore, the resulting schedules should be discussed with the stakeholders to find out what they prefer and what can be done to further improve the model. Hopefully, this can then be adopted in the actual schedule of the Jupiler Pro League.

Another limitation is the fact that the break requirements could not be included in the model. A possible solution for this might be to use a 2-phased ‘First-schedule, then-break’ method. The team pairings can then be assigned in the first phase, taking the distance minimization and constraints into account for the special period. The home-away patterns are then assigned for each team in phase two, considering the assignments from the first phase.

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Appendices

A. Distances

Address Royal Antwerp FC Bosuilstadion, Oude Bosuilbaan 54, 2100 Antwerpen Club Brugge KV Jan Breydelstadion, Koning Leopold III-laan 50, 8200 Brugge KAA Gent Ghelamco Arena, Ottergemsesteenweg Zuid, Gent Cercle Brugge KSV Jan Breydelstadion, Koning Leopold III-laan 50, 8200 Brugge Standard Luik Royal Standard de Liège, Rue de la Centrale 2, 4000 Luik KV Kortrijk KV Kortrijk, Moorseelsestraat 111b, 8500 Kortrijk Royal Charleroi Sporting Club Stade du Pays de Charleroi, Rue des Sports 31, 6000 Charleroi KV Oostende Versluys Arena, l, Leopold Van Tyghemlaan 62, 8400 Oostende RSC Anderlecht RSCA Constant Vanden Stock Stadion, Théo Verbeecklaan 2, 1070 Anderlecht Royal Excel Moeskroen Le Canonnier, Stationstraat 33, 7700 Moeskroen KSC Lokeren OV Daknamstraat 91, 9160 Lokeren KRC Genk Luminus Arena, Stadionplein, 3600 Genk Sint-Truidense VV Stadion KSTVV, Tiensesteenweg 168, 3800 Sint-Truiden KVRS Waasland - SK Beveren Freethielstadion, Lindenlaan 23, 9120 Beveren KAS Eupen Kehrweg-Stadion, 4700 Eupen SV Zulte Waregem Regenboogstadion, Zuiderlaan 17, 8790 Waregem YR KV Mechelen AFAS Stadion, Kleine Nieuwedijkstraat 53, 2800 Mechelen KVC Westerlo De Merodedreef 189, 2260 Westerlo Table A-1: Venue Addresses

Teams Royal AntwerpClub BruggeKAA KV Gent Cercle BruggeStandard KSV deKV Liège KortrijkSporting CharleroiKV OostendeRSC AnderlechtRoyal ExcelSporting Mouscron LokerenKRC Genk STVV Waasland-BeverenKAS EupenZulte Waregem Royal Antwerp 0 109 67.3 109 129 111 105 128 54.9 119 43.5 88.1 89.1 19.9 151 92.9 Club Brugge KV 109 0 48.8 0 196 49.1 150 23.2 95.2 59.1 71.6 192 160 94 229 53 KAA Gent 67.3 48.8 0 48.8 152 46 102 67 51 56 25 147 116 47 185 31 Cercle Brugge KSV 109 0 48.8 0 196 49.1 150 23.2 95.2 59.1 71.6 192 160 94 229 53 Standard de Liège 129 196 152 196 0 197 93 215 117 205 150 63 41 146 46 181 KV Kortrijk 111 49.1 46 49.1 197 0 130 63 94 14 69 190 160 92 228 16 Sporting Charleroi 105 150 102 150 93 130 0 168 56 124 117 140 88 116 130 127 KV Oostende 128 23.2 67 23.2 215 63 168 0 113 73 89 209 178 112 247 72 RSC Anderlecht 54.9 95.2 51 95.2 117 94 56 113 0 103 54 108 80 57 148 82 Royal Excel Mouscron 119 59.1 56 59.1 205 14 124 73 103 0 80 200 170 103 239 30 Sporting Lokeren 43.5 71.6 25 71.6 150 69 117 89 54 80 0 126 114 23 184 53 KRC Genk 88.1 192 147 192 63 190 140 209 108 200 126 0 42 107 82 175 STVV 89.1 160 116 160 41 160 88 178 80 170 114 42 0 108 74 145 Waasland-Beveren 19.9 94 47 94 146 92 116 112 57 103 23 107 108 0 167 78 KAS Eupen 151 229 185 229 46 228 130 247 148 239 184 82 74 167 0 214 Zulte Waregem 92.9 53 31 53 181 16 127 72 82 30 53 175 145 78 214 0

Table A-2: Distance Matrix Season 2018-2019

Teams KVC WesterloClub BruggeKAA KV Gent YR KV MechelenCercleStandard deKV BruggeLiège Kortrijk KSVSporting CharleroiKV OostendeRSC AnderlechtRoyal ExcelSporting Mouscron LokerenKRC Genk STVV Waasland-BeverenKAS EupenZulte Waregem KVC Westerlo 0 148 102 36 91 146 116 166 76 156 81 55 43 65 117 130 Club Brugge KV 148 0 49 123 196 49 150 23 95 59 72 192 160 94 229 53 KAA Gent 102 49 0 66 152 46 102 67 51 56 25 147 116 47 185 31 YR KV Mechelen 36 123 66 0 115 110 90 141 40 131 46 110 69 37 148 106 Standard de Liège 91 196 152 115 0 197 93 215 117 205 150 63 41 146 46 181 KV Kortrijk 146 49 46 110 197 0 130 63 94 14 69 190 160 92 228 16 Sporting Charleroi 116 150 102 90 93 130 0 168 56 124 117 140 88 116 130 127 KV Oostende 166 23 67 141 215 63 168 0 113 73 89 209 178 112 247 72 RSC Anderlecht 76 95 51 40 117 94 56 113 0 103 54 108 80 57 148 82 Royal Excel Mouscron 156 59 56 131 205 14 124 73 103 0 80 200 170 103 239 30 Sporting Lokeren 81 72 25 46 150 69 117 89 54 80 0 126 114 23 184 53 KRC Genk 55 192 147 110 63 190 140 209 108 200 126 0 42 107 82 175 STVV 43 160 116 69 41 160 88 178 80 170 114 42 0 108 74 145 Waasland-Beveren 65 94 47 37 146 92 116 112 57 103 23 107 108 0 167 78 KAS Eupen 117 229 185 148 46 228 130 247 148 239 184 82 74 167 0 214 Zulte Waregem 130 53 31 106 181 16 127 72 82 30 53 175 145 78 214 0

Table A-3: Distance Matrix Season 2017-2018

Teams Royal AntwerpClub BruggeKAA KV Gent YR KV MechelenStandard deKV Liège KortrijkSporting CharleroiKV OostendeRSC AnderlechtRoyal ExcelSporting Mouscron LokerenKRC Genk STVV Waasland-BeverenKAS EupenZulte Waregem Royal Antwerp 0 109 67 28 129 111 105 128 55 119 44 88 89 20 151 93 Club Brugge KV 109 0 49 123 196 49 150 23 95 59 72 192 160 94 229 53 KAA Gent 67 49 0 66 152 46 102 67 51 56 25 147 116 47 185 31 YR KV Mechelen 28 123 66 0 115 110 90 141 40 131 46 110 69 37 148 106 Standard de Liège 129 196 152 115 0 197 93 215 117 205 150 63 41 146 46 181 KV Kortrijk 111 49 46 110 197 0 130 63 94 14 69 190 160 92 228 16 Sporting Charleroi 105 150 102 90 93 130 0 168 56 124 117 140 88 116 130 127 KV Oostende 128 23 67 141 215 63 168 0 113 73 89 209 178 112 247 72 RSC Anderlecht 55 95 51 40 117 94 56 113 0 103 54 108 80 57 148 82 Royal Excel Mouscron 119 59 56 131 205 14 124 73 103 0 80 200 170 103 239 30 Sporting Lokeren 44 72 25 46 150 69 117 89 54 80 0 126 114 23 184 53 KRC Genk 88 192 147 110 63 190 140 209 108 200 126 0 42 107 82 175 STVV 89 160 116 69 41 160 88 178 80 170 114 42 0 108 74 145 Waasland-Beveren 20 94 47 37 146 92 116 112 57 103 23 107 108 0 167 78 KAS Eupen 151 229 185 148 46 228 130 247 148 239 184 82 74 167 0 214 Zulte Waregem 93 53 31 106 181 16 127 72 82 30 53 175 145 78 214 0 Table A-4: Distance Matrix Season 2016-2017

Ordered Values Royal AntwerpClub BruggeKAA KV Gent Cercle BruggeStandard KSV deKV Liège KortrijkSporting CharleroiKV OostendeRSC AnderlechtRoyal ExcelSporting Mouscron LokerenKRC Genk STVV Waasland-BeverenKAS EupenZulte Waregem 1 20 0 25 0 41 14 56 23 51 14 23 42 41 20 46 16 2 44 23 31 23 46 16 88 23 54 30 25 63 42 23 74 30 3 55 49 46 49 63 46 93 63 55 56 44 82 74 47 82 31 4 67 49 47 49 93 49 102 67 56 59 53 88 80 57 130 53 5 88 53 49 53 117 49 105 72 57 59 54 107 88 78 148 53 6 89 59 49 59 129 63 116 73 80 73 69 108 89 92 151 53 7 93 72 51 72 146 69 117 89 82 80 72 126 108 94 167 72 8 105 94 56 94 150 92 124 112 94 103 72 140 114 94 184 78 9 109 95 67 95 152 94 127 113 95 103 80 147 116 103 185 82 10 109 109 67 109 181 111 130 128 95 119 89 175 145 107 214 93 11 111 150 102 150 196 130 130 168 103 124 114 190 160 108 228 127 12 119 160 116 160 196 160 140 178 108 170 117 192 160 112 229 145 13 128 192 147 192 197 190 150 209 113 200 126 192 160 116 229 175 14 129 196 152 196 205 197 150 215 117 205 150 200 170 146 239 181 15 151 229 185 229 215 228 168 247 148 239 184 209 178 167 247 214 Table A-5: Ascending Distance Table Season 2018-2019

Ordered Values Royal AntwerpClub BruggeKAA KV Gent YR KV MechelenStandard deKV Liège KortrijkSporting CharleroiKV OostendeRSC AnderlechtRoyal ExcelSporting Mouscron LokerenKRC Genk STVV Waasland-BeverenKAS EupenZulte Waregem 1 20 23 25 28 41 14 56 23 40 14 23 42 41 20 46 16 2 28 49 31 37 46 16 88 63 51 30 25 63 42 23 74 30 3 44 49 46 40 63 46 90 67 54 56 44 82 69 37 82 31 4 55 53 47 46 93 49 93 72 55 59 46 88 74 47 130 53 5 67 59 49 66 115 63 102 73 56 73 53 107 80 57 148 53 6 88 72 51 69 117 69 105 89 57 80 54 108 88 78 148 72 7 89 94 56 90 129 92 116 112 80 103 69 110 89 92 151 78 8 93 95 66 106 146 94 117 113 82 103 72 126 108 94 167 82 9 105 109 67 110 150 110 124 128 94 119 80 140 114 103 184 93 10 109 123 67 110 152 111 127 141 95 124 89 147 116 107 185 106 11 111 150 102 115 181 130 130 168 103 131 114 175 145 108 214 127 12 119 160 116 123 196 160 130 178 108 170 117 190 160 112 228 145 13 128 192 147 131 197 190 140 209 113 200 126 192 160 116 229 175 14 129 196 152 141 205 197 150 215 117 205 150 200 170 146 239 181 15 151 229 185 148 215 228 168 247 148 239 184 209 178 167 247 214 Table A-6: Ascending Distance Table Season 2017-2018

Ordered Values KVC WesterloClub BruggeKAA KV Gent YR KV MechelenCercleStandard deKV BruggeLiège Kortrijk KSVSporting CharleroiKV OostendeRSC AnderlechtRoyal ExcelSporting Mouscron LokerenKRC Genk STVV Waasland-BeverenKAS EupenZulte Waregem 1 36 23 25 36 41 14 56 23 40 14 23 42 41 23 46 16 2 43 49 31 37 46 16 88 63 51 30 25 55 42 37 74 30 3 55 49 46 40 63 46 90 67 54 56 46 63 43 47 82 31 4 65 53 47 46 91 49 93 72 56 59 53 82 69 57 117 53 5 76 59 49 66 93 63 102 73 57 73 54 107 74 65 130 53 6 81 72 51 69 115 69 116 89 76 80 69 108 80 78 148 72 7 91 94 56 90 117 92 116 112 80 103 72 110 88 92 148 78 8 102 95 66 106 146 94 117 113 82 103 80 126 108 94 167 82 9 116 123 67 110 150 110 124 141 94 124 81 140 114 103 184 106 10 117 148 102 110 152 130 127 166 95 131 89 147 116 107 185 127 11 130 150 102 115 181 146 130 168 103 156 114 175 145 108 214 130 12 146 160 116 123 196 160 130 178 108 170 117 190 160 112 228 145 13 148 192 147 131 197 190 140 209 113 200 126 192 160 116 229 175 14 156 196 152 141 205 197 150 215 117 205 150 200 170 146 239 181 15 166 229 185 148 215 228 168 247 148 239 184 209 178 167 247 214 Table A-7: Ascending Distance Table Season 2016-2017

B. Actual Special Period Schedules

Round 20 (21-23/12/2018) Distance Round 21 (26-27/12/2018) Distance Club Brugge KV Royal Antwerp 109 RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren 57 Standard de Liège KV Oostende 215 KRC Genk KAA Gent 147 KAA Gent Cercle Brugge KSV 49 KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem 16 Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht 103 KV Oostende STVV 178 KAS Eupen KRC Genk 82 Cercle Brugge KSV KAS Eupen 229 Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi 127 Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV 72 Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren 23 Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège 93 STVV KV Kortrijk 160 Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron 119 Total 868 Total 911

Round 22 (18-20/01/2019) Distance Round 23 (25-27/01/2019) Distance Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi 150 RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen 148 Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk 197 KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron 200 KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht 51 KV Kortrijk KAA Gent 49 Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende 73 KV Oostende Club Brugge KV 23 KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren 184 Cercle Brugge KSV STVV 160 Zulte Waregem Royal Antwerp 93 Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem 53 Waasland-Beveren Cercle Brugge KSV 94 Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren 116 STVV KRC Genk 42 Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège 129 Total 884 Total 878 Table B-1: Special Period Schedule Season 2018-2019

Round 20 (20-23/12/2017) Distance Round 21 (26-27/12/2017) Distance RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen 148 Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron 59 Standard de Liège STVV 41 RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent 51 KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi 102 KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège 197 KRC Genk KV Kortrijk 190 KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren 167 Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem 30 KV Oostende KRC Genk 209 YR KV Mechelen Club Brugge KV 123 Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi 127 Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren 44 Sporting Lokeren YR KV Mechelen 46 Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende 112 STVV Royal Antwerp 89 Total 790 Total 945

Round 22 (19-21/01/2018) Distance Round 23 (23-25/01/2018) Distance Standard de Liège KAS Eupen 46 Club Brugge KV KV Oostende 23 KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren 25 RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren 57 KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht 108 Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk 14 KV Oostende KV Kortrijk 63 KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi 130 YR KV Mechelen Zulte Waregem 106 Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège 181 Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron 124 Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk 126 Royal Antwerp Club Brugge KV 109 Royal Antwerp KAA Gent 67 Waasland-Beveren STVV 108 STVV YR KV Mechelen 69 Total 689 Total 667 Table B-2: Special Period Schedule Season 2017-2018 Round 20 (20-22/12/2016) Distance Round 21 (26-27/12/2016) Distance Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren 150 Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron 59 KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht 51 KRC Genk KAA Gent 147 KV Kortrijk KV Oostende 63 KV Oostende KAS Eupen 247 Royal Excel Mouscron KVC Westerlo 156 Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen 106 KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV 229 Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren 23 Zulte Waregem KRC Genk 175 Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht 56 YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi 90 KVC Westerlo KV Kortrijk 146 Waasland-Beveren STVV 108 STVV Standard de Liège 41 Total 1022 Total 825

Round 22 (20-22/01/2017) Distance Round 23 (24-26/01/2017) Distance RSC Anderlecht STVV 80 Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren 94 Standard de Liege Club Brugge KV 196 KRC Genk KV Kortrijk 190 KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi 102 KAS Eupen Standard de Liège 46 KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem 16 KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi 168 Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren 80 Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron 30 KAS Eupen KRC Genk 82 Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent 25 YR KV Mechelen KVC Westerlo 36 KVC Westerlo RSC Anderlecht 76 Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende 112 STVV YR KV Mechelen 69 Table B-3: Special PeriodTotal Schedule 704Season 2016-2017 Total 698

C. Attractive Matches

SV ZulteWaregem

KAS Eupen KVRS Waasland - SKKVRS - Waasland Beveren Sint-TruidenseVV KRC KRC Genk KSC OV Lokeren Royal Excel Moeskroen Excel Royal RSC AnderlechtRSC KV Oostende Royal Charleroi Sporting Charleroi Royal Club

KV Kortrijk match) Standard Luik attractive Cercle BruggeCercle KSV KAAGent indicates indicates an = 1 1 = ClubBrugge KV Value Value x ( x Royal Antwerp Royal FC Matri active : Attr : 1 - C A et0100100010010000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 Teams 0 0 0 0 Antwerp Royal FC 0 0 0 Club Brugge KV 0 0 KAAGent 0 0 0 0 BruggeCercle KSV 0 0 StandardLuik 0 KVKortrijk 0 0 Charleroi Sporting Royal Club 0 KVOostende Anderlecht RSC 0 Moeskroen Excel Royal 0 KSC OV Lokeren Genk KRC Sint-TruidenseVV SKKVRS - Waasland Beveren KAS Eupen SV ZulteWaregem Table Table

D. CPLEX Model & Data

Model 1 /********************************************* 2 * OPL 12.8.0.0 Model 3 * Author: samwa 4 * Creation Date: 3-jul.-2019 at 09:51:22 5 *********************************************/ 6 7 //data parameters 8 int numTeams =...; 9 int numRounds =...; 10 int numSpecRounds =...; 11 int region1Limit =...; 12 int numFirstHalf=...; 13 int numSecondHalf=...; 14 int maxBreakPerTeam=...; 15 int superSunday1=...; 16 int superSunday2=...; 17 int superSunday3=...; 18 int superSunday4=...; 19 int superSunday5=...; 20 int fixAttractiveMatches=...; 21 int maxDistanceRound21=...; //Fairness Approach 2 22 int maxDistanceOtherRounds=...; //Fairness Approach 2 23 int maxDifference=...; //Fairness Approach 3 24 int maxDistanceSpecPeriod=...; // Fairness Approach 4 25 26 //Ranges 27 range teams = 1..numTeams; 28 range rounds = 1..numRounds; 29 range specRounds = 20..numSpecRounds; //Special Period runs from round 20 to round 23 30 range firstHalf = 1..numFirstHalf; //Round 1 to 15 (First half if the tournament) 31 range secondHalf = 16..numSecondHalf; //Round 16 to 30 (Second half of the tournament) 32 range breakRounds1 = 2..numRounds; 33 range breakRounds2 = 3..numRounds; //Starting from round 3 because otherwise rounds -2 & -1 would be taken into account 34 range gap = 0..4; //At least 5 round must be in between the 2 fixtures of 2 teams 35 range gapRounds = 11..numFirstHalf; //Only the 5 last rounds of tournament's first half must be considered for the gap 36 37 //Parameters 38 int distances[teams][teams] = ...; //Loads distance matrix (16x16) into model 39 int attractiveMatches[teams][teams]=...; //Loads attractive matches matrix (16x16) into model 40 int HAP[teams][rounds] = ...; //Loads the home-away patterns for Additional Approach 1 41 42 43 //DecisionVariables 44 dvar boolean match[teams][teams][rounds]; // 1, if team h (home) plays team a (away) at round r (1-30) 45 // 0, otherwise;

46 dvar boolean break[teams][rounds]; //1, if team has a break in round r 47 //0, otherwise 48 49 50 51 //travellingDistance 52 dexpr float travellingDistance = sum(h in teams, a in teams, r in specRounds)(match[h][a] [r] * distances[h][a]); 53 54 //Objective Function 55 minimize travellingDistance; //Minimizes the total travelling distance of all teams in the special period (round 20-23) 56 57 58 59 //Constraints 60 subject to{ 61 62 63 //Basic Contraints 64 65 66 forall(t in teams, r in rounds){ 67 constraint0: match[t][t][r] == 0; //Additional constraint so no team has have a match with itself 68 } 69 70 forall(h in teams, r in rounds){ 71 constraint1: sum(a in teams)(match[h][a][r] + match[a][h][r]) == 1; //Each team must have exactly 1 match each round 72 } 73 74 forall(h in teams, a in teams){ 75 constraint2a: sum(r in firstHalf)(match[h][a][r] + match[a][h][r]) <= 1; //Each team can have at most one match with another team in the first & second half of the tournament 76 constraint2b: sum(r in secondHalf)(match[h][a][r] + match[a][h][r]) <= 1; //Must be <= 0, because match of a team against itself is 0 and will make model infeasible if ==0 77 } 78 79 forall(h in teams, a in teams){ 80 constraint3: sum(r in rounds)(match[h][a][r] - match[a][h][r]) == 0; //Each team must have a home and away game against every other team 81 } 82 83 forall(r in rounds) 84 constraint4: sum(a in teams)(match[2][a][r] + match[4][a][r]) <= region1Limit; //Club Brugge (team 2 in matrix) & Cercle Brugge KSV (team 4 matrix) share the same stadium, so they cannot both play at home in the same round 85 //not included in season 2016-2017 86 forall(h in teams, a in teams, r in gapRounds){ 87 constraint5: sum(g in gap)(match[h][a][r+g] + match[a][h][r+g]) <= 1; //The fixtures

between 2 teams must have at least 5 rounds in between 88 } 89 90 //Break Constraints: These are not included as they increase the runtime substantially 91 92 //forall(h in teams, r in breakRounds1){ 93 //constraint6a: sum(a in teams)((fixture[h][a][r-1] + fixture[h][a][r]) - break[h][r]) <=1; 94 //constraint6b: sum(a in teams)((fixture[a][h][r-1] + fixture[a][h][r]) - break[h][r]) <=1; 95 //} 96 97 //forall(h in teams){ 98 //constraint6c: sum(r in breakRounds1)(break[h][r]) <= maxBreakPerTeam; 99 //} 100 101 forall(h in teams, r in breakRounds2){ 102 constraint6d: sum(a in teams)(match[h][a][r-1] + match[h][a][r] + match[h][a][r-2]) <=2; //no team can have more than 2 consecutive home games 103 constraint6e: sum(a in teams)(match[a][h][r-1] + match[a][h][r] + match[a][h][r-2]) <=2; //no team can have more than 2 consecutive away games 104 } 105 106 107 forall(h in teams){ 108 constraint7a: sum(a in teams)(match[h][a][1] + match[h][a][2]) ==1; //Each team must have a home and away game on round 1 & 2 109 } 110 111 forall(h in teams){ 112 constraint7b: sum(a in teams)(match[h][a][29] + match[h][a][30]) ==1; //Each team must have a home and away game on round 29 & 30 113 } 114 115 forall(h in teams){ 116 constraint8a: sum(a in teams, r in specRounds)(match[h][a][r]) ==2; //Each team must have 2 home games and 2 away games in special period 117 } 118 119 forall(h in teams){ 120 constraint8b: sum(a in teams)(match[h][a][20] + match[h][a][21]) ==1; //Each team must have a home game and an away games December (and January) 121 } 122 123 constraint9a:sum(h in teams, a in teams)(match[h][a][superSunday1] * attractiveMatches[h] [a]) == fixAttractiveMatches; 124 constraint9b:sum(h in teams, a in teams)(match[h][a][superSunday2] * attractiveMatches[h] [a]) == fixAttractiveMatches; 125 constraint9c:sum(h in teams, a in teams)(match[h][a][superSunday3] * attractiveMatches[h] [a]) == fixAttractiveMatches; 126 constraint9d:sum(h in teams, a in teams)(match[h][a][superSunday4] * attractiveMatches[h] [a]) == fixAttractiveMatches; 127 constraint9e:sum(h in teams, a in teams)(match[h][a][superSunday5] * attractiveMatches[h] [a]) == fixAttractiveMatches;

100

128 129 130 //Fairness Approach 2 Constraint 131 forall(h in teams, a in teams){ 132 constraint10a: (match[h][a][20]*distances[h][a]) <= maxDistanceOtherRounds; //Limits distance on round 20 133 constraint10b: (match[h][a][21]*distances[h][a]) <= maxDistanceRound21; //Limits distance on round 21 134 constraint10c: (match[h][a][22]*distances[h][a]) <= maxDistanceOtherRounds; //Limits distance on round 22 135 constraint10d: (match[h][a][23]*distances[h][a]) <= maxDistanceOtherRounds; //Limits distance on round 23 136 } 137 138 //Fairness Approach 3 Constraint 139 forall(a1 in teams, a2 in teams){ 140 constraint11a: sum(h in teams, r in specRounds)(match[h][a1][r]*distances[h][a1]-match[h] [a2][r]*distances[h][a2]) <= maxDifference; 141 constraint11b: sum(h in teams, r in specRounds)(match[h][a2][r]*distances[h][a2]-match[h] [a1][r]*distances[h][a1]) <= maxDifference; 142 } 143 144 //Fairness Approach 4 Constraint 145 forall(a in teams){ 146 constraint12: sum(h in teams, r in specRounds)(match[h][a][r]*distances[h][a]) <= maxDistanceSpecPeriod; //Limits distance over total special period 147 } 148 149 150 //Additional Approach 1 Constraint 151 forall (h in teams) 152 sum(a in teams, r in rounds)(match[h][a][r] * HAP[h][r]) == 15; //Makes sure that a team can only play at home if the value in HAP is equal to 1 153 154 155 } 156 /// Postprocess to output a formatted solution. 157 tuple Solution{ 158 int team1; 159 int team2; 160 int round; 161 }; 162 sorted {Solution} solution = { | r in rounds, h in teams, a in teams : match[h][a] [r] ==1};

101

Data /********************************************* 2 * OPL 12.8.0.0 Data 3 * Author: samwa 4 * Creation Date: 3-jul.-2019 at 09:51:22 5 *********************************************/ 6 7 //general data elements defining number of teams and total number of rounds 8 numTeams = 16; 9 numRounds = 30; 10 11 12 //data element that represents last round of special period = round 23 13 numSpecRounds = 23; 14 15 16 //auxiliary elements to define first half (round 1-15) and the second half (round 16-30) of the tournament 17 numFirstHalf = 15; 18 numSecondHalf = 30; 19 20 21 //data element that defines the limit of home matches per round played by Club Brugge & Cercle Brugge 22 //(only one team can play at home) 23 region1Limit = 1; 24 25 //Limit to the amount of breaks each team is allowed to have over the whole season 26 maxBreakPerTeam = 3; 27 28 //2018-2019: Matrix that contains the travelling distances of the teams between their respective venues in a pairing 29 //The teams are ordered in the 16x16 matrix as follows: 30 //[Royal Antwerp,Club Brugge KV,KAA Gent,Cercle Brugge KSV,Standard de Liège,KV Kortrijk,Sporting Charleroi,KV Oostende, 31 //RSC Anderlecht, Royal Excel Mouscron, Sporting Lokeren, KRC Genk, STVV, Waasland-Beveren, KAS Eupen, Zulte Waregem] 32 distances= [[0,109,67,109,129,111,105,128,55,119,44,88,89,20,151,93], 33 [109,0,49,0,196,49,150,23,95,59,72,192,160,94,229,53], 34 [67,49,0,49,152,46,102,67,51,56,25,147,116,47,185,31], 35 [109,0,49,0,196,49,150,23,95,59,72,192,160,94,229,53], 36 [129,196,152,196,0, 197,93, 215,117,205,150,63,41,146,46,181], 37 [111,49,46,49,197,0,130,63,94,14,69,190,160,92,228,16], 38 [105,150,102,150,93,130,0,168,56,124,117,140,88,116,130,127], 39 [128,23,67,23,215,63,168,0,113,73,89,209,178,112,247,72], 40 [55,95,51,95,117,94,56,113,0,103,54,108,80,57,148,82], 41 [119,59,56,59,205,14,124,73,103,0,80,200,170,103,239,30], 42 [44,72,25,72,150,69,117,89,54,80,0,126,114,23,184,53], 43 [88,192,147,192,63,190,140,209,108,200,126,0,42,107,82,175], 44 [89,160,116,160,41,160,88,178,80,170,114,42,0,108,74,145], 45 [20,94,47,94,146,92,116,112,57,103,23,107,108,0,167,78], 46 [151,229,185,229,46,228,130,247,148,239,184,82,74,167,0,214],

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47 [93,53,31,53,181,16,127,72,82,30,53,175,145,78,214,0]]; 48 49 50 //2017-2018 Matrix 51 //Team ordered as follows: 52 //[Royal Antwerp,Club Brugge KV,KAA Gent,YR KV Mechelen,Standard de Liège,KV Kortrijk,Sporting Charleroi,KV Oostende, 53 //RSC Anderlecht, Royal Excel Mouscron, Sporting Lokeren, KRC Genk, STVV, Waasland-Beveren, KAS Eupen, Zulte Waregem] 54 distances= [[0,109,67,28,129,111,105,128,55,119,44,88,89,20,151,93], 55 [109,0,49,123,196,49,150,23,95,59,72,192,160,94,229,53], 56 [67,49,0,66,152,46,102,67,51,56,25,147,116,47,185,31], 57 [28,123,66,0,115,110,90,141,40,131,46,110,69,37,148,106], 58 [129,196,152,115,0,197,93,215,117,205,150,63,41,146,46,181], 59 [111,49,46,110,197,0,130,63,94,14,69,190,160,92,228,16], 60 [105,150,102,90,93,130,0,168,56,124,117,140,88,116,130,127], 61 [128,23,67,141,215,63,168,0,113,73,89,209,178,112,247,72], 62 [55,95,51,40,117,94,56,113,0,103,54,108,80,57,148,82], 63 [119,59,56,131,205,14,124,73,103,0,80,200,170,103,239,30], 64 [44,72,25,46,150,69,117,89,54,80,0,126,114,23,184,53], 65 [88,192,147,110,63,190,140,209,108,200,126,0,42,107,82,175], 66 [89,160,116,69,41,160,88,178,80,170,114,42,0,108,74,145], 67 [20,94,47,37,146,92,116,112,57,103,23,107,108,0,167,78], 68 [151,229,185,148,46,228,130,247,148,239,184,82,74,167,0,214], 69 [93,53,31,106,181,16,127,72,82,30,53,175,145,78,214,0]]; 70 71 //2016-2017 Matrix 72 //Team ordered as follows: 73 //[KVC Westerlo,Club Brugge KV,KAA Gent,YR KV Mechelen,Standard de Liège,KV Kortrijk,Sporting Charleroi,KV Oostende, 74 //RSC Anderlecht, Royal Excel Mouscron, Sporting Lokeren, KRC Genk, STVV, Waasland-Beveren, KAS Eupen, Zulte Waregem] 75 distances= [[0,148,102,36,91,146,116,166,76,156,81,55,43,65,117,130], 76 [148,0,49,123,196,49,150,23,95,59,72,192,160,94,229,53], 77 [102,49,0,66,152,46,102,67,51,56,25,147,116,47,185,31], 78 [36,123,66,0,115,110,90,141,40,131,46,110,69,37,148,106], 79 [91,196,152,115,0,197,93,215,117,205,150,63,41,146,46,181], 80 [146,49,46,110,197,0,130,63,94,14,69,190,160,92,228,16], 81 [116,150,102,90,93,130,0,168,56,124,117,140,88,116,130,127], 82 [166,23,67,141,215,63,168,0,113,73,89,209,178,112,247,72], 83 [76,95,51,40,117,94,56,113,0,103,54,108,80,57,148,82], 84 [156,59,56,131,205,14,124,73,103,0,80,200,170,103,239,30], 85 [81,72,25,46,150,69,117,89,54,80,0,126,114,23,184,53], 86 [55,192,147,110,63,190,140,209,108,200,126,0,42,107,82,175], 87 [43,160,116,69,41,160,88,178,80,170,114,42,0,108,74,145], 88 [65,94,47,37,146,92,116,112,57,103,23,107,108,0,167,78], 89 [117,229,185,148,46,228,130,247,148,239,184,82,74,167,0,214], 90 [130,53,31,106,181,16,127,72,82,30,53,175,145,78,214,0]]; 91 92

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93 //Attractive matches between top teams can be scheduled throughout the season but on round 8, 10, 17, 24, 27 (season 2018-2019) 94 //a fixed amount of top games must be scheduled(=Super Sunday) 95 superSunday1 = 5; 96 superSunday2 = 9; 97 superSunday3 = 14; 98 superSunday4 = 19; 99 superSunday5 = 24; 100 101 //Number of attractive matches on a Super Sunday must be 2 102 fixAttractiveMatches = 2; 103 104 //The matrix shows the attractive pairings between the teams (1=attractive match) 105 attractiveMatches = [[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0], 106 [0,0,1,0,1,0,0,0,1,0,0,1,0,0,0,0], 107 [0,1,0,0,1,0,0,0,1,0,0,1,0,0,0,0], 108 [0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0], 109 [0,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,0,1,0,0,0,0], 110 [0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0], 111 [0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0], 112 [0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0], 113 [0,1,1,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,0], 114 [0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0], 115 [0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0], 116 [0,1,1,0,1,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0], 117 [0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0], 118 [0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0], 119 [0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0], 120 [0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]]; 121 122 ///Season 2018-2019 Home-Away patterns 123 HAP = [[0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,1,0], 124 [1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1], 125 [0,1,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0], 126 [0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0], 127 [1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1], 128 [1,0,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1], 129 [1,0,1,0,1,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1], 130 [1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1], 131 [0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0], 132 [0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0], 133 [1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1], 134 [0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0], 135 [1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,0,1], 136 [0,1,0,1,0,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0], 137 [0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0], 138 [1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1]]; 139 140 141 //Season 2017-2018 Home-Away patterns 142 HAP = [[1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0], 143 [0,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0],

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144 [0,1,0,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0], 145 [1,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1], 146 [0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0], 147 [0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1], 148 [1,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0], 149 [1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1], 150 [0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1], 151 [0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0], 152 [1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1], 153 [1,0,0,1,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1], 154 [1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1], 155 [0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0], 156 [1,0,1,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1], 157 [0,1,1,0,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0]]; 158 159 //Season 2016-2017 Home-Away patterns 160 HAP = [[1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,1], 161 [0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1], 162 [0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1], 163 [1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,0], 164 [0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,1,0,1], 165 [1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1], 166 [1,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0], 167 [0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0], 168 [0,1,0,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1], 169 [1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0], 170 [0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,1], 171 [1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0], 172 [1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,0,1,0], 173 [0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,0], 174 [0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1], 175 [1,0,1,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0,1,0]];

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E. Resulting Tournament Schedules: Fairness Approach 1

Round 1 Cercle Brugge KSV Royal Antwerp Round 15 Royal Antwerp KAA Gent Round 1 Royal Antwerp KAA Gent Round 16 YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk YR KV Mechelen STVV Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège KV Oostende Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende Royal Antwerp STVV Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron Cercle Brugge KSV Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk KRC Genk KAS Eupen KRC Genk Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen KAA Gent KAS Eupen STVV Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV STVV Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem KRC Genk Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem Round 2 Royal Antwerp Zulte Waregem Round 16 Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren Round 2 Club Brugge KV KRC Genk Round 17 Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent KV Kortrijk Cercle Brugge KSV Standard de Liège KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent KAS Eupen Standard de Liège STVV KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk KV Kortrijk Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende KV Oostende KAS Eupen KRC Genk Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron STVV RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren STVV Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem KRC Genk Cercle Brugge KSV KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV STVV Zulte Waregem KRC Genk Royal Antwerp Round 3 Royal Antwerp KV Oostende Round 17 Club Brugge KV Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV STVV Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht Round 3 Royal Antwerp KV Oostende Round 18 Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk KV Oostende YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren Cercle Brugge KSV KRC Genk KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen KRC Genk KV Kortrijk STVV Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem Cercle Brugge KSV Waasland-Beveren STVV Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent Round 4 Cercle Brugge KSV KAA Gent Round 18 Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem KV Oostende KV Kortrijk Royal Antwerp Cercle Brugge KSV RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk KRC Genk Round 4 Royal Antwerp KRC Genk Round 19 Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi STVV KAA Gent Standard de Liège , KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV KV Oostende STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent KRC Genk KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem STVV Zulte Waregem Zulte Waregem KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren YR KV Mechelen Round 5 Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron Round 19 Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren STVV Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen , KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen KAS Eupen Royal Antwerp KAA Gent KV Oostende Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk Round 5 Club Brugge KV KAA Gent Round 20 Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège Cercle Brugge KSV KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk STVV KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem KRC Genk KV Kortrijk KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren STVV STVV Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen Cercle Brugge KSV KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht Round 6 Royal Antwerp Club Brugge KV Round 20 KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren Royal Antwerp STVV Standard de Liège Cercle Brugge KSV STVV Cercle Brugge KSV KV Oostende KAS Eupen KV Oostende KAS Eupen KRC Genk Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht Round 6 Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren Round 21 Club Brugge KV KV Oostende KV Oostende KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk KAA Gent KV Oostende YR KV Mechelen Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk STVV YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk Round 7 Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Round 21 Royal Antwerp Sporting Charleroi STVV KRC Genk KRC Genk STVV KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV Cercle Brugge KSV Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron Round 7 Royal Antwerp Club Brugge KV Round 22 Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège KRC Genk Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent Standard de Liège STVV Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent STVV Sporting Lokeren Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk KV Oostende KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren Cercle Brugge KSV STVV Standard de Liège KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV Round 8 KAA Gent Zulte Waregem Round 22 KAA Gent KAS Eupen KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen STVV KV Kortrijk Cercle Brugge KSV KV Kortrijk Cercle Brugge KSV Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen KAA Gent KAS Eupen YR KV Mechelen Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende STVV Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk Round 8 Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem Round 23 KAA Gent Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen Club Brugge KV KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht RSC Anderlecht STVV Sporting Charleroi Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem KV Oostende YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht Round 9 Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège Round 23 KAA Gent Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht STVV KV Oostende KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Antwerp KRC Genk KAA Gent KRC Genk Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen Standard de Liège STVV Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende KV Kortrijk KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren Round 9 KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren Round 24 Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen STVV KV Kortrijk YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent KRC Genk STVV RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen KV Oostende Standard de Liège KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen Round 10 Club Brugge KV KAA Gent Round 24 Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège KRC Genk Club Brugge KV KRC Genk STVV KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht Cercle Brugge KSV RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem Royal Antwerp Zulte Waregem STVV Sporting Lokeren Royal Antwerp STVV Cercle Brugge KSV Round 10 Royal Antwerp YR KV Mechelen Round 25 Royal Antwerp Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV STVV YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem KAA Gent Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège KAA Gent Round 11 KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren Round 25 Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende KV Kortrijk KV Kortrijk KV Oostende Cercle Brugge KSV Zulte Waregem KAA Gent Cercle Brugge KSV Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk STVV Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende KV Oostende Standard de Liège KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi STVV Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk Round 11 Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht Round 26 Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren STVV Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen Standard de Liège KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem Royal Antwerp YR KV Mechelen KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk KAA Gent Round 12 Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren Round 26 Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht Royal Antwerp Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende Cercle Brugge KSV Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem KRC Genk KV Oostende KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk KRC Genk KV Oostende STVV KAA Gent KAS Eupen STVV STVV KRC Genk STVV Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent Round 12 KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi Round 27 Royal Antwerp STVV Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen Round 13 Royal Antwerp STVV Round 27 KAA Gent Royal Antwerp KV Oostende Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht Cercle Brugge KSV Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen Cercle Brugge KSV KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk KV Oostende Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem STVV Royal Antwerp KRC Genk Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège KRC Genk Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi STVV KV Oostende Round 13 KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht Round 28 Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège Royal Antwerp Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen Round 14 Cercle Brugge KSV Club Brugge KV Round 28 Royal Antwerp KRC Genk KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège KV Oostende Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Lokeren STVV Standard de Liège KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende KAA Gent KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk STVV KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen STVV RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem STVV Round 14 Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen Round 29 Club Brugge KV Royal Antwerp Round 15 Royal Antwerp KAA Gent Round 29 KAA Gent STVV Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk Cercle Brugge KSV KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen KAA Gent KV Kortrijk KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège Standard de Liège Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi STVV KV Oostende KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron Cercle Brugge KSV KV Oostende Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende STVV YR KV Mechelen KAS Eupen STVV Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht Round 15 Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren Round 30 Royal Antwerp Sporting Charleroi Round 16 Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren Round 30 Royal Antwerp Cercle Brugge KSV Club Brugge KV YR KV Mechelen KAA Gent STVV KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège KAA Gent KV Kortrijk YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende Cercle Brugge KSV Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk KAA Gent KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen KRC Genk Zulte Waregem KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht STVV Waasland-Beveren STVV KAS Eupen STVV KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem KV Oostende Zulte Waregem KRC Genk Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège Table E-1: Tournament Schedule 2018- Table E-2: Tournament Schedule 2017- 2019: 2-Round Special Period 2018: 2-Round Special Period

106

Round 1 KVC Westerlo KAA Gent Round 16 KVC Westerlo Royal Excel Mouscron Round 1 Royal Antwerp KRC Genk Round 16 Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège STVV KAA Gent KAS Eupen Cercle Brugge KSV Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV KV Oostende STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen STVV Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren Cercle Brugge KSV Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV STVV KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht Round 2 Club Brugge KV YR KV Mechelen Round 17 KAA Gent STVV Round 2 Club Brugge KV Cercle Brugge KSV Round 17 Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège YR KV Mechelen Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk KAA Gent Royal Antwerp Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent KV Kortrijk STVV KV Oostende KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron STVV RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht KVC Westerlo Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren KVC Westerlo KRC Genk KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen Cercle Brugge KSV STVV Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem KV Oostende Round 3 KAA Gent Standard de Liège Round 18 YR KV Mechelen Club Brugge KV Round 3 Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk Round 18 Royal Antwerp Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Cercle Brugge KSV KV Oostende KAA Gent KAS Eupen KV Oostende Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk Cercle Brugge KSV KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron STVV KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren STVV Standard de Liège STVV RSC Anderlecht RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen KVC Westerlo Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem KVC Westerlo KAS Eupen KAA Gent STVV Club Brugge KV Round 4 KVC Westerlo KRC Genk Round 19 KVC Westerlo Waasland-Beveren Round 4 Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen Round 19 Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège KV Oostende , Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi , Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent KRC Genk KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège STVV Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem KRC Genk Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren STVV Cercle Brugge KSV STVV KAA Gent STVV Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen YR KV Mechelen KAS Eupen KV Oostende KRC Genk Cercle Brugge KSV KAS Eupen Royal Antwerp Round 5 KVC Westerlo Zulte Waregem Round 20 KVC Westerlo STVV Round 5 Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Lokeren Round 20 Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV KV Oostende KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège Cercle Brugge KSV Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk STVV Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren STVV KRC Genk KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht STVV KRC Genk KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem KAA Gent Zulte Waregem KAA Gent Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV Round 6 Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron Round 21 KAA Gent Club Brugge KV Round 6 Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron Round 21 Club Brugge KV KAA Gent KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen KVC Westerlo Club Brugge KV STVV Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem KAA Gent KV Oostende KV Oostende Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Charleroi KVC Westerlo Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk KV Oostende KRC Genk KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem STVV Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk KRC Genk Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren STVV KRC Genk KRC Genk KAS Eupen STVV Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège KAS Eupen Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem Cercle Brugge KSV Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht Round 7 KVC Westerlo Club Brugge KV Round 22 KVC Westerlo KAS Eupen Round 7 KAA Gent Club Brugge KV Round 22 Club Brugge KV KV Oostende YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège Cercle Brugge KSV KV Kortrijk KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk STVV KV Oostende KAA Gent KV Oostende Standard de Liège Standard de Liège KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk Cercle Brugge KSV KV Oostende Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk KRC Genk KV Kortrijk KRC Genk STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren STVV YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren Royal Antwerp STVV KRC Genk KAS Eupen KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren Round 8 KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen Round 23 Club Brugge KV KVC Westerlo Round 8 Cercle Brugge KSV KAA Gent Round 23 Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège KRC Genk Cercle Brugge KSV Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent STVV KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren KVC Westerlo KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht STVV KAS Eupen KAS Eupen STVV Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem STVV Zulte Waregem Royal Antwerp Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk Round 9 KVC Westerlo KV Oostende Round 24 YR KV Mechelen Zulte Waregem Round 9 Royal Antwerp Cercle Brugge KSV Round 24 Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV KAA Gent KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV KAA Gent KV Kortrijk KV Oostende KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi STVV KV Oostende KVC Westerlo Sporting Charleroi STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent KV Oostende Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren Cercle Brugge KSV KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège KRC Genk KAA Gent KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron STVV Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren STVV KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège Round 10 KAA Gent Zulte Waregem Round 25 KVC Westerlo KV Kortrijk Round 10 Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Charleroi Round 25 KAA Gent Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV KRC Genk Standard de Liège KAA Gent Cercle Brugge KSV Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk KRC Genk Standard de Liège KAA Gent KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk KRC Genk KV Oostende STVV Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen STVV KV Oostende KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht STVV Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron KVC Westerlo Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren STVV Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren Round 11 KVC Westerlo YR KV Mechelen Round 26 KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi Round 11 Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège Round 26 Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège KVC Westerlo Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende KV Kortrijk KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk KAA Gent KRC Genk Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Charleroi Cercle Brugge KSV STVV RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk KV Oostende KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège STVV Club Brugge KV STVV KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem STVV Round 12 KVC Westerlo Sporting Lokeren Round 27 Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren Round 12 Royal Antwerp KAA Gent Round 27 Royal Antwerp STVV Club Brugge KV STVV KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron Cercle Brugge KSV KAS Eupen KAA Gent Standard de Liège KAA Gent KV Kortrijk YR KV Mechelen KAS Eupen Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV Cercle Brugge KSV Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège KRC Genk KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht STVV STVV KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk KVC Westerlo Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende KRC Genk Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem KRC Genk KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk Round 13 KAA Gent KV Oostende Round 28 KVC Westerlo Sporting Charleroi Round 13 Cercle Brugge KSV STVV Round 28 Club Brugge KV Royal Antwerp YR KV Mechelen Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège KAA Gent Cercle Brugge KSV Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV YR KV Mechelen KAA Gent KV Oostende Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen STVV KVC Westerlo STVV Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk KV Kortrijk KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent STVV Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem KRC Genk Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren Round 14 KV Kortrijk KVC Westerlo Round 29 KVC Westerlo RSC Anderlecht Round 14 Royal Antwerp Sporting Charleroi Round 29 Cercle Brugge KSV RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent KV Kortrijk KAA Gent Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Royal Antwerp KV Oostende YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem KAA Gent KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège KV Oostende Standard de Liège Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem KV Oostende KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk KRC Genk STVV Sporting Lokeren YR KV Mechelen Royal Excel Mouscron Cercle Brugge KSV STVV Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren STVV Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen STVV KAS Eupen KV Oostende KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem Round 15 KVC Westerlo Standard de Liège Round 30 Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen Round 15 Royal Antwerp Club Brugge KV Round 30 Royal Antwerp KV Oostende Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent KVC Westerlo Cercle Brugge KSV Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen YR KV Mechelen STVV YR KV Mechelen KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem KAA Gent STVV KV Kortrijk KV Oostende Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège Cercle Brugge KSV Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren STVV Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi STVV KAA Gent KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem KV Oostende KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Table E-3: Tournament Schedule 2016- Table E-4: Tournament Schedule 2018- 2017: 2-Round Special Period 2019: 4-Round Special Period

107

Round 1 Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen Round 16 Royal Antwerp YR KV Mechelen Round 1 Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron Round 16 Zulte Waregem KRC Genk KAA Gent KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège KV Oostende KAS Eupen KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV STVV Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent KV Kortrijk STVV Sporting Lokeren KVC Westerlo RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk Club Brugge KV YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende YR KV Mechelen STVV KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem STVV KVC Westerlo KRC Genk KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi Round 2 Club Brugge KV STVV Round 17 Club Brugge KV Royal Antwerp Round 2 Zulte Waregem KVC Westerlo Round 17 Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent KV Oostende KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron STVV KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht Royal Antwerp KV Oostende STVV KRC Genk Standard de Liège KV Oostende Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent STVV Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV KVC Westerlo Round 3 Royal Antwerp Club Brugge KV Round 18 Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht Round 3 Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen Round 18 KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen Zulte Waregem STVV KRC Genk STVV KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège KAA Gent KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende Standard de Liège KV Oostende Royal Antwerp Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège KAA Gent STVV Sporting Lokeren STVV Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen KVC Westerlo Standard de Liège KVC Westerlo Zulte Waregem Round 4 Club Brugge KV KRC Genk Round 19 Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron Round 4 Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren Round 19 Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège YR KV Mechelen Royal Antwerp , KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi , Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi STVV RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht STVV RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende KAA Gent KV Oostende KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent KRC Genk KAA Gent Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk KV Kortrijk KVC Westerlo KAS Eupen KV Oostende STVV Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen Club Brugge KV YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV KVC Westerlo STVV KAA Gent KAS Eupen Round 5 Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk Round 20 Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht Round 5 Zulte Waregem STVV Round 20 Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk KAA Gent Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV KV Oostende KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren KVC Westerlo KRC Genk STVV RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron STVV Standard de Liège STVV Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi YR KV Mechelen Standard de Liège KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV Club Brugge KV KAA Gent KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen KRC Genk KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht KVC Westerlo YR KV Mechelen Round 6 Club Brugge KV KAA Gent Round 21 KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV Round 6 KAS Eupen Standard de Liège Round 21 KAS Eupen KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren STVV RSC Anderlecht STVV KVC Westerlo Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende KAA Gent KRC Genk KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk Royal Antwerp YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV STVV KRC Genk STVV KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron KVC Westerlo Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent KV Oostende Round 7 KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron Round 22 Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren Round 7 Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron Round 22 Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk YR KV Mechelen KAA Gent Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk STVV Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren YR KV Mechelen KRC Genk KVC Westerlo Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen KRC Genk KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron STVV Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende Standard de Liège STVV YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV KRC Genk STVV KAA Gent KV Kortrijk KAA Gent Zulte Waregem Zulte Waregem Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen Standard de Liège KVC Westerlo Club Brugge KV Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Round 8 Royal Antwerp KRC Genk Round 23 Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron Round 8 STVV KAS Eupen Round 23 Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège KRC Genk KRC Genk Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen STVV YR KV Mechelen KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht KVC Westerlo Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht STVV STVV YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk KV Oostende KV Oostende KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren Royal Antwerp YR KV Mechelen Standard de Liège Standard de Liège KRC Genk KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem KAA Gent Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren KVC Westerlo Waasland-Beveren Round 9 Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen Round 24 YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende Round 9 Zulte Waregem KV Oostende Round 24 Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk KAA Gent Standard de Liège Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen YR KV Mechelen STVV Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk STVV KRC Genk KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron STVV KV Oostende Standard de Liège KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi KVC Westerlo Waasland-Beveren STVV Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem KAA Gent Club Brugge KV YR KV Mechelen KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem KV Oostende KAS Eupen Royal Antwerp KVC Westerlo Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV KRC Genk Round 10 Club Brugge KV YR KV Mechelen Round 25 Royal Antwerp Zulte Waregem Round 10 Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Round 25 Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen KAA Gent KAS Eupen KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren STVV KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende KRC Genk KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende KVC Westerlo KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi STVV KAA Gent KRC Genk KV Kortrijk KV Kortrijk YR KV Mechelen Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren STVV RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen STVV Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent KVC Westerlo Round 11 Royal Antwerp KV Oostende Round 26 Royal Antwerp STVV Round 11 STVV Sporting Lokeren Round 26 Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk YR KV Mechelen Club Brugge KV KRC Genk KAS Eupen STVV Club Brugge KV YR KV Mechelen Standard de Liège Standard de Liège KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk KAA Gent KV Oostende Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren STVV Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent Standard de Liège Standard de Liège YR KV Mechelen KAS Eupen KAA Gent Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi KVC Westerlo Royal Excel Mouscron KVC Westerlo KAS Eupen Round 12 KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi Round 27 KAA Gent Royal Antwerp Round 12 Zulte Waregem KAA Gent Round 27 Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen YR KV Mechelen STVV YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen KVC Westerlo KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège KAS Eupen Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem STVV Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Antwerp KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen KRC Genk Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem KRC Genk KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren KVC Westerlo RSC Anderlecht Round 13 Royal Antwerp KAA Gent Round 28 Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège Round 13 Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen Round 28 KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem KV Oostende YR KV Mechelen KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende STVV KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron KVC Westerlo KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende KAS Eupen Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège STVV KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren Sporting Lokeren STVV Club Brugge KV STVV KV Kortrijk KRC Genk Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège KRC Genk Zulte Waregem KVC Westerlo KV Kortrijk YR KV Mechelen KAA Gent Round 14 Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren Round 29 Standard de Liège YR KV Mechelen Round 14 KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem Round 29 Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV KAA Gent KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent KRC Genk Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem KRC Genk KV Oostende KV Oostende STVV Standard de Liège KVC Westerlo Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende STVV Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen STVV Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen YR KV Mechelen KVC Westerlo KAA Gent KRC Genk Round 15 KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht Round 30 Royal Antwerp Sporting Charleroi Round 15 Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren Round 30 KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren STVV YR KV Mechelen STVV Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent STVV RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège KV Oostende Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht STVV Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège Standard de Liège KV Oostende KV Kortrijk KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht KVC Westerlo KAA Gent KVC Westerlo KV Oostende Table E-5: Tournament Schedule 2017- Table E-6: Tournament Schedule 2016- 2018: 4-Round Special Period 2017: 4-Round Special Period

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F. Resulting Tournament Schedules: Fairness Approach 2

Round 1 Royal Antwerp Sporting Charleroi Round 16 KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren Round 1 KAA Gent KV Kortrijk Round 16 Royal Antwerp STVV Cercle Brugge KSV Royal Excel Mouscron Cercle Brugge KSV Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk KRC Genk KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk KV Oostende Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht Royal Antwerp Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk STVV KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem STVV Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV STVV Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem Zulte Waregem KV Oostende KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen KAS Eupen KV Oostende Round 2 Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem Round 17 Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen Round 2 Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren Round 17 KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen KAA Gent KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège Cercle Brugge KSV Standard de Liège KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège STVV KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren Royal Antwerp KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron STVV Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem STVV KV Kortrijk KRC Genk STVV Zulte Waregem KAA Gent KRC Genk KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV Round 3 KAA Gent Standard de Liège Round 18 Royal Antwerp Cercle Brugge KSV Round 3 Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk Round 18 Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk Cercle Brugge KSV Royal Antwerp Club Brugge KV KV Oostende YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV STVV KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV KAA Gent KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège KAA Gent KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk KV Oostende STVV Sporting Lokeren Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen KV Oostende KRC Genk STVV KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège STVV KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem Royal Antwerp Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht Round 4 Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk Round 19 Cercle Brugge KSV Zulte Waregem Round 4 Royal Antwerp KV Oostende Round 19 KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV STVV , Standard de Liège STVV KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron , Sporting Charleroi Royal Antwerp KV Oostende KAA Gent KV Kortrijk Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk STVV Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège KV Oostende KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk Zulte Waregem STVV YR KV Mechelen KAS Eupen Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende Zulte Waregem KRC Genk KAS Eupen KAA Gent KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem Round 5 Cercle Brugge KSV Club Brugge KV Round 20 Club Brugge KV Cercle Brugge KSV Round 5 Club Brugge KV KRC Genk Round 20 Club Brugge KV KAA Gent Standard de Liège Royal Antwerp KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen STVV RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège STVV Standard de Liège STVV Zulte Waregem KRC Genk Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen KRC Genk KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen STVV Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk Round 6 Royal Antwerp KV Oostende Round 21 Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren Round 6 Royal Antwerp KRC Genk Round 21 Royal Antwerp YR KV Mechelen KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren Cercle Brugge KSV KV Oostende Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent Zulte Waregem Cercle Brugge KSV Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège KAS Eupen Standard de Liège KAA Gent Standard de Liège KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende Club Brugge KV STVV RSC Anderlecht STVV KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV STVV KAS Eupen KRC Genk STVV Round 7 Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren Round 22 Royal Antwerp KAA Gent Round 7 YR KV Mechelen Club Brugge KV Round 22 Royal Antwerp Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège KV Oostende Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren YR KV Mechelen KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi STVV RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen KV Oostende Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren STVV KV Oostende Standard de Liège KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk KRC Genk Cercle Brugge KSV Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV STVV Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron STVV KAS Eupen Royal Antwerp KRC Genk Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem KAA Gent KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren Round 8 Royal Antwerp Zulte Waregem Round 23 Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen Round 8 Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren Round 23 Club Brugge KV YR KV Mechelen Club Brugge KV KAA Gent KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk KAA Gent STVV KV Kortrijk KV Oostende KV Oostende Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Charleroi Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende STVV KAA Gent STVV Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende KAS Eupen YR KV Mechelen KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem STVV Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron Round 9 Royal Antwerp Club Brugge KV Round 24 Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron Round 9 Royal Antwerp Sporting Charleroi Round 24 Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen KAA Gent Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV KRC Genk KAA Gent Club Brugge KV KAA Gent Standard de Liège Cercle Brugge KSV STVV KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk YR KV Mechelen Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk Cercle Brugge KSV KV Oostende KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende KV Oostende KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende KRC Genk KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren STVV STVV Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht STVV Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Round 10 KAA Gent KRC Genk Round 25 Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht Round 10 YR KV Mechelen KAA Gent Round 25 KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren Cercle Brugge KSV KV Kortrijk Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk Royal Antwerp YR KV Mechelen Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk STVV Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Zulte Waregem KV Oostende Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège KRC Genk KAS Eupen KV Oostende Royal Antwerp STVV Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk KAA Gent STVV Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen STVV Round 11 Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi Round 26 Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk Round 11 Club Brugge KV Royal Antwerp Round 26 Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk KAA Gent Standard de Liège KAA Gent Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht STVV Standard de Liège KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk KV Kortrijk KAA Gent KRC Genk Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren YR KV Mechelen Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi STVV KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren Royal Antwerp STVV Cercle Brugge KSV KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen Zulte Waregem Cercle Brugge KSV Zulte Waregem Royal Antwerp Zulte Waregem KV Oostende Zulte Waregem STVV Round 12 Royal Antwerp STVV Round 27 Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren Round 12 Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège Round 27 Royal Antwerp Zulte Waregem Cercle Brugge KSV KAA Gent Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent KRC Genk Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent Cercle Brugge KSV KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende Club Brugge KV KV Oostende STVV Sporting Charleroi YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren STVV RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron STVV Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen Round 13 Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron Round 28 KAA Gent Club Brugge KV Round 13 YR KV Mechelen Royal Antwerp Round 28 Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège KAA Gent STVV Cercle Brugge KSV KRC Genk Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi STVV Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem KRC Genk Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren Cercle Brugge KSV Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren STVV Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk KV Oostende KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk STVV Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen KAA Gent Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren Round 14 Royal Antwerp KRC Genk Round 29 Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège Round 14 Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron Round 29 Royal Antwerp KAA Gent Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren Cercle Brugge KSV KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi Cercle Brugge KSV KV Oostende KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège KRC Genk KV Oostende STVV RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège STVV Standard de Liège STVV KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren STVV KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem KRC Genk Round 15 KAA Gent Royal Antwerp Round 30 Club Brugge KV Royal Antwerp Round 15 Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren Round 30 Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem Cercle Brugge KSV RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent KV Oostende KAA Gent Royal Antwerp KAA Gent KV Oostende Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht STVV KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Cercle Brugge KSV STVV KV Oostende KRC Genk KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren STVV Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen KRC Genk Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi Table F-1: Tournament Schedule 2018- Table F-2: Tournament Schedule 2017- 2019: 2-Round Special Period 2018: 2-Round Special Period

109

Round 1 KAA Gent KRC Genk Round 16 KVC Westerlo KV Kortrijk Round 1 Royal Antwerp Sporting Charleroi Round 16 Cercle Brugge KSV Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège KAA Gent KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk KVC Westerlo YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende Cercle Brugge KSV KV Oostende KV Oostende Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen Standard de Liège STVV RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk KRC Genk KV Kortrijk STVV KV Oostende KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren Waasland-Beveren STVV KAS Eupen Standard de Liège STVV KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen KAS Eupen KAA Gent Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Round 2 KVC Westerlo Zulte Waregem Round 17 KVC Westerlo KRC Genk Round 2 Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren Round 17 Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV KAA Gent Standard de Liège YR KV Mechelen KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Charleroi STVV Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège KV Oostende KV Kortrijk KV Kortrijk KV Oostende KRC Genk Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem STVV Cercle Brugge KSV KRC Genk KV Oostende KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen STVV RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem Round 3 KVC Westerlo Sporting Lokeren Round 18 KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren Round 3 Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren Round 18 Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende KVC Westerlo Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent STVV KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège Cercle Brugge KSV KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk KV Oostende KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren STVV KV Oostende KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk KV Oostende KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk Zulte Waregem STVV Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège STVV KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem Royal Antwerp Round 4 YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk Round 19 KVC Westerlo Royal Excel Mouscron Round 4 KAA Gent Club Brugge KV Round 19 Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège Standard de Liège KVC Westerlo , KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren Cercle Brugge KSV KRC Genk , Cercle Brugge KSV KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht RSC Anderlecht STVV KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège STVV Club Brugge KV STVV Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren STVV KAS Eupen Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem KRC Genk Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem KV Oostende Zulte Waregem KAA Gent Round 5 Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen Round 20 Club Brugge KV KAA Gent Round 5 Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk Round 20 Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi Cercle Brugge KSV Zulte Waregem KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen KVC Westerlo RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren Cercle Brugge KSV Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège KRC Genk KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem STVV Standard de Liège KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren KVC Westerlo STVV KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen STVV Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen KV Oostende STVV RSC Anderlecht Round 6 KVC Westerlo KAS Eupen Round 21 KVC Westerlo YR KV Mechelen Round 6 Royal Antwerp Zulte Waregem Round 21 Club Brugge KV KV Oostende KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège KAA Gent Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende YR KV Mechelen Standard de Liège KAS Eupen KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht STVV KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk STVV Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren Royal Antwerp KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren STVV KRC Genk KAS Eupen Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk STVV Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem Cercle Brugge KSV Round 7 KAA Gent KV Kortrijk Round 22 KVC Westerlo RSC Anderlecht Round 7 Cercle Brugge KSV Royal Antwerp Round 22 Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège KAA Gent KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi Royal Antwerp KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Cercle Brugge KSV STVV KVC Westerlo Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende KRC Genk KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren STVV Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren STVV STVV Standard de Liège KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk KAS Eupen KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem KV Oostende KAS Eupen KV Oostende Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron Round 8 KVC Westerlo KAA Gent Round 23 KAA Gent KV Oostende Round 8 Royal Antwerp STVV Round 23 Royal Antwerp KRC Genk Club Brugge KV KV Oostende YR KV Mechelen Club Brugge KV Cercle Brugge KSV KAS Eupen Cercle Brugge KSV KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk KV Oostende KV Kortrijk KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk KV Oostende KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron STVV Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem STVV KAS Eupen KRC Genk Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem KVC Westerlo Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen STVV Round 9 Club Brugge KV KVC Westerlo Round 24 KVC Westerlo Sporting Charleroi Round 9 Royal Antwerp KV Oostende Round 24 Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi YR KV Mechelen Standard de Liège KAA Gent KAA Gent KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi STVV KV Oostende KAS Eupen KV Oostende STVV KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen STVV Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Antwerp STVV Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren Cercle Brugge KSV KRC Genk KAA Gent Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem KRC Genk Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège Round 10 KAA Gent STVV Round 25 KV Kortrijk YR KV Mechelen Round 10 Club Brugge KV Cercle Brugge KSV Round 25 Royal Antwerp Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk KRC Genk KVC Westerlo Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren KVC Westerlo KRC Genk Standard de Liège STVV KV Oostende KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren STVV Zulte Waregem STVV Waasland-Beveren Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht Round 11 KVC Westerlo KV Oostende Round 26 KVC Westerlo STVV Round 11 KAA Gent Zulte Waregem Round 26 Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Charleroi Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège Royal Antwerp KV Oostende Standard de Liège Standard de Liège STVV Standard de Liège KV Oostende KV Kortrijk KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron STVV KRC Genk Cercle Brugge KSV Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht STVV Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen Round 12 YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren Round 27 KVC Westerlo Standard de Liège Round 12 Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron Round 27 KAA Gent Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi KVC Westerlo Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV STVV Cercle Brugge KSV STVV KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent Cercle Brugge KSV KV Kortrijk Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège KAS Eupen KV Oostende Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV STVV YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV KRC Genk KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende KV Oostende KRC Genk KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht STVV KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem KAA Gent Zulte Waregem KRC Genk Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron Round 13 KVC Westerlo Waasland-Beveren Round 28 Club Brugge KV STVV Round 13 Cercle Brugge KSV Standard de Liège Round 28 Royal Antwerp KAA Gent KAA Gent Club Brugge KV KAA Gent KVC Westerlo KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV Club Brugge KV KRC Genk Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent KV Kortrijk STVV RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem STVV Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende STVV KRC Genk KRC Genk KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende KAS Eupen Cercle Brugge KSV KAS Eupen YR KV Mechelen KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht Round 14 Club Brugge KV KRC Genk Round 29 KVC Westerlo Club Brugge KV Round 14 Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen Round 29 Club Brugge KV Royal Antwerp KAA Gent KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk STVV KAA Gent Royal Antwerp KAA Gent KV Oostende YR KV Mechelen STVV Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent Standard de Liège KV Oostende Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk KV Oostende Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht Cercle Brugge KSV Royal Excel Mouscron KVC Westerlo Sporting Lokeren YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren Cercle Brugge KSV KRC Genk Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk KRC Genk Standard de Liège KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren STVV Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen STVV KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen Round 15 Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren Round 30 Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem Round 15 Royal Antwerp Club Brugge KV Round 30 Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent KRC Genk Cercle Brugge KSV Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen KRC Genk Cercle Brugge KSV RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht KVC Westerlo Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk KRC Genk Zulte Waregem STVV Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende STVV Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen STVV KAS Eupen KVC Westerlo Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem STVV Table F-3: Tournament Schedule 2016- Table F-4: Tournament Schedule 2018- 2017: 2-Round Special Period 2019: 4-Round Special Period

110

Round 1 Royal Antwerp Sporting Charleroi Round 16 Royal Antwerp STVV Round 1 KVC Westerlo Sporting Lokeren Round 16 KVC Westerlo STVV KAA Gent Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen KAA Gent Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron STVV Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen KV Oostende STVV KV Oostende KRC Genk KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen Round 2 Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren Round 17 Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk Round 2 KAA Gent KRC Genk Round 17 KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège STVV KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk KAA Gent KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk KVC Westerlo KV Oostende Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende Zulte Waregem KV Oostende YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht KVC Westerlo KRC Genk Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen STVV YR KV Mechelen KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk KAS Eupen KAA Gent STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV STVV Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem Round 3 Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren Round 18 Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen Round 3 Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi Round 18 KVC Westerlo KV Oostende Club Brugge KV STVV KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen Standard de Liège YR KV Mechelen Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen Standard de Liège Standard de Liège YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi Royal Antwerp STVV Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron STVV Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem KRC Genk Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem KVC Westerlo KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem Round 4 YR KV Mechelen KAA Gent Round 19 YR KV Mechelen Zulte Waregem Round 4 KVC Westerlo Royal Excel Mouscron Round 19 KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende Royal Antwerp , Standard de Liège KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen Club Brugge KV , Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk KAA Gent KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi STVV Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV KRC Genk KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège KV Oostende KAS Eupen STVV Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron KVC Westerlo Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren STVV KRC Genk Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren STVV KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen KV Oostende Zulte Waregem KRC Genk Round 5 Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron Round 20 Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren Round 5 Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht Round 20 KVC Westerlo Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent Club Brugge KV KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen STVV YR KV Mechelen Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent KV Oostende Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem KV Oostende KVC Westerlo RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem KV Oostende KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren STVV KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren YR KV Mechelen KRC Genk STVV KRC Genk Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi STVV Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen KRC Genk Round 6 Club Brugge KV KRC Genk Round 21 Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Round 6 KVC Westerlo RSC Anderlecht Round 21 YR KV Mechelen KVC Westerlo KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège KAS Eupen KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège KV Oostende KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk KV Kortrijk KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Club Brugge KV STVV Royal Antwerp STVV KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem KRC Genk STVV Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen STVV YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen YR KV Mechelen Zulte Waregem KAA Gent KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem KAA Gent Round 7 Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen Round 22 Royal Antwerp KRC Genk Round 7 KVC Westerlo YR KV Mechelen Round 22 KVC Westerlo KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV STVV KAA Gent Club Brugge KV KAA Gent Standard de Liège Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende KAA Gent KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège KRC Genk KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem STVV KAS Eupen STVV Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen STVV Sporting Charleroi Round 8 KAA Gent KV Oostende Round 23 KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren Round 8 KAA Gent Zulte Waregem Round 23 Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi YR KV Mechelen Royal Antwerp YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk KV Oostende Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk KV Oostende KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende KRC Genk KVC Westerlo STVV KV Kortrijk STVV Standard de Liège STVV KVC Westerlo Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen STVV KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren Round 9 YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende Round 24 Royal Antwerp Zulte Waregem Round 9 KAA Gent Standard de Liège Round 24 Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège Standard de Liège KRC Genk Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent KVC Westerlo KV Kortrijk Royal Antwerp Sporting Charleroi STVV KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV YR KV Mechelen KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron STVV RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren STVV Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen KVC Westerlo Sporting Lokeren STVV KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem KV Oostende Round 10 Royal Antwerp KAA Gent Round 25 Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht Round 10 KVC Westerlo KAA Gent Round 25 KVC Westerlo Club Brugge KV Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent STVV Club Brugge KV KV Oostende KAA Gent KV Kortrijk KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende Standard de Liège Standard de Liège KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht STVV KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk Club Brugge KV KRC Genk KAS Eupen KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen STVV KAS Eupen KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk STVV RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron Round 11 Royal Antwerp Club Brugge KV Round 26 Club Brugge KV Royal Antwerp Round 11 Club Brugge KV KAA Gent Round 26 KVC Westerlo KV Kortrijk KAA Gent KV Kortrijk KV Kortrijk KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk KV Kortrijk KV Oostende Standard de Liège KAA Gent Standard de Liège STVV RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi STVV KV Oostende STVV KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren KVC Westerlo Zulte Waregem STVV Round 12 KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren Round 27 Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège Round 12 KVC Westerlo KRC Genk Round 27 Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen YR KV Mechelen Club Brugge KV YR KV Mechelen KAS Eupen KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi YR KV Mechelen STVV Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren STVV RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren KVC Westerlo KAS Eupen KRC Genk STVV Zulte Waregem STVV Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen YR KV Mechelen Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht Round 13 Club Brugge KV KAA Gent Round 28 Club Brugge KV YR KV Mechelen Round 13 Club Brugge KV KVC Westerlo Round 28 KVC Westerlo Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk YR KV Mechelen KAA Gent Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk STVV Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende STVV KV Oostende KRC Genk KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht STVV KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen KRC Genk Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen KAA Gent STVV KAA Gent KAS Eupen Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren Round 14 Royal Antwerp YR KV Mechelen Round 29 Royal Antwerp KV Oostende Round 14 KAA Gent STVV Round 29 KAA Gent KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren YR KV Mechelen KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent KRC Genk KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège KVC Westerlo Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi KVC Westerlo RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende KV Oostende KV Kortrijk KV Kortrijk STVV RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi Sporting Charleroi YR KV Mechelen Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen STVV KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk STVV Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV Round 15 YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren Round 30 YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk Round 15 KVC Westerlo Standard de Liège Round 30 KVC Westerlo Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège Royal Antwerp KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV KRC Genk Club Brugge KV YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk KV Oostende KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren STVV Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende STVV KRC Genk KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège STVV KAA Gent KAS Eupen Royal Antwerp STVV Zulte Waregem KRC Genk KAA Gent Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht Table F-5: Tournament Schedule 2017-2018: Table F-6: Tournament Schedule 2016- 4-Round Special Period 2017: 4-Round Special Period

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G. Resulting Tournament Schedules: Fairness Approach 3

Round 1 Royal Antwerp STVV Round 16 Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht Round 1 Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren Round 16 Club Brugge KV STVV Cercle Brugge KSV Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent KV Oostende YR KV Mechelen KAA Gent Standard de Liège KV Oostende KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht STVV RSC Anderlecht Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen KRC Genk Standard de Liège KRC Genk STVV Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen KRC Genk Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen KAA Gent KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem KRC Genk KAS Eupen KAA Gent Round 2 Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen Round 17 Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron Round 2 Club Brugge KV YR KV Mechelen Round 17 YR KV Mechelen Standard de Liège KAA Gent KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende KAS Eupen Standard de Liège KV Oostende KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi Royal Antwerp KV Oostende KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège KRC Genk Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV STVV KRC Genk KRC Genk KAA Gent STVV KV Kortrijk KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht STVV Cercle Brugge KSV Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem STVV Zulte Waregem Zulte Waregem Cercle Brugge KSV Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent Round 3 KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron Round 18 KAA Gent Club Brugge KV Round 3 Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen Round 18 Royal Antwerp KRC Genk Cercle Brugge KSV Royal Antwerp Cercle Brugge KSV Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk KAA Gent KAA Gent KV Kortrijk KV Kortrijk KRC Genk KV Oostende KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen KV Oostende Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende KV Oostende STVV Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk STVV YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV STVV KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem STVV Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen Round 4 Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren Round 19 Royal Antwerp KV Oostende Round 4 KAA Gent Royal Antwerp Round 19 Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV KAA Gent , Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende , KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende KV Kortrijk KAA Gent Standard de Liège Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk STVV Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren Cercle Brugge KSV Royal Excel Mouscron Cercle Brugge KSV RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem STVV RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren STVV KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège KAS Eupen STVV KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron Round 5 Cercle Brugge KSV STVV Round 20 Cercle Brugge KSV Zulte Waregem Round 5 Royal Antwerp Sporting Charleroi Round 20 Royal Antwerp KAA Gent Standard de Liège KAA Gent Standard de Liège STVV Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk KV Oostende Standard de Liège KRC Genk KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht Royal Antwerp Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk STVV KRC Genk KAS Eupen KRC Genk KRC Genk KAS Eupen STVV KAS Eupen KAS Eupen Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren Round 6 Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège Round 21 Royal Antwerp KRC Genk Round 6 Royal Antwerp YR KV Mechelen Round 21 Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV KV Oostende KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent Cercle Brugge KSV KAA Gent STVV Standard de Liège STVV KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk KV Oostende KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht STVV Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren Sporting Lokeren Royal Antwerp KRC Genk Cercle Brugge KSV KAS Eupen Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège KRC Genk KAS Eupen STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht Round 7 Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren Round 22 Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren Round 7 YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi Round 22 Royal Antwerp Club Brugge KV Cercle Brugge KSV KV Kortrijk KV Kortrijk KAA Gent Standard de Liège KAS Eupen YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi STVV RSC Anderlecht Cercle Brugge KSV RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège KRC Genk KAA Gent KV Oostende KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem KRC Genk Zulte Waregem STVV Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk STVV KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen Royal Antwerp Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen STVV Round 8 Club Brugge KV Royal Antwerp Round 23 KAA Gent Royal Antwerp Round 8 KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren Round 23 KAA Gent Club Brugge KV KAA Gent KRC Genk Cercle Brugge KSV KV Oostende Standard de Liège YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende Cercle Brugge KSV KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende STVV KRC Genk KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren STVV Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen STVV Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Excel Mouscron STVV Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen YR KV Mechelen Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem Royal Antwerp Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège Round 9 Royal Antwerp KAA Gent Round 24 Royal Antwerp Cercle Brugge KSV Round 9 Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren Round 24 Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk Cercle Brugge KSV RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV KAA Gent Club Brugge KV KRC Genk KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen KRC Genk Standard de Liège KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem KRC Genk Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen STVV Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen KV Oostende KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi STVV KV Oostende Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem STVV KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen Round 10 Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège Round 25 Royal Antwerp Zulte Waregem Round 10 Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht Round 25 Royal Antwerp Zulte Waregem KAA Gent Zulte Waregem Cercle Brugge KSV Club Brugge KV Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk STVV Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent KAA Gent Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi Cercle Brugge KSV KV Oostende Standard de Liège YR KV Mechelen Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk KV Oostende KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Antwerp STVV Waasland-Beveren STVV Standard de Liège KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren Round 11 Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk Round 26 Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi Round 11 KAA Gent KAS Eupen Round 26 Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent STVV Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège Cercle Brugge KSV KV Oostende Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège KRC Genk KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk STVV KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren YR KV Mechelen STVV KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren Cercle Brugge KSV Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk KRC Genk STVV KAS Eupen Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem KV Oostende Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem KV Oostende Round 12 KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren Round 27 Club Brugge KV KRC Genk Round 12 Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron Round 27 Royal Antwerp KV Oostende Cercle Brugge KSV Standard de Liège KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk Cercle Brugge KSV YR KV Mechelen STVV KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi STVV KRC Genk Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron STVV KAS Eupen STVV Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk Round 13 Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen Round 28 Royal Antwerp Club Brugge KV Round 13 Club Brugge KV Royal Antwerp Round 28 YR KV Mechelen Royal Antwerp Cercle Brugge KSV KAA Gent Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk KV Kortrijk YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht RSC Anderlecht STVV Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren STVV KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron STVV Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem KRC Genk Zulte Waregem KAA Gent KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren STVV Waasland-Beveren Round 14 Club Brugge KV Cercle Brugge KSV Round 29 KAA Gent KAS Eupen Round 14 KAA Gent Standard de Liège Round 29 KAA Gent KRC Genk KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi Cercle Brugge KSV KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen KAS Eupen YR KV Mechelen Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende KRC Genk Standard de Liège Royal Antwerp KV Oostende Royal Antwerp Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren STVV Sporting Lokeren STVV Royal Antwerp STVV RSC Anderlecht STVV Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi Round 15 Cercle Brugge KSV KAS Eupen Round 30 Royal Antwerp Sporting Charleroi Round 15 Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège Round 30 Royal Antwerp STVV Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende Club Brugge KV STVV KAA Gent KV Oostende Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende KV Kortrijk KRC Genk KV Oostende YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren STVV Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège KRC Genk KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen Cercle Brugge KSV Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem KAA Gent Table G-1: Tournament Schedule 2018- Table G-2: Tournament Schedule 2017-2018: 2019: 2-Round Special Period 2-Round Special Period

112

Round 1 KVC Westerlo YR KV Mechelen Round 16 KVC Westerlo Sporting Charleroi Round 1 Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem Round 16 Cercle Brugge KSV STVV Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem KAA Gent KRC Genk KV Kortrijk Cercle Brugge KSV KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende STVV KRC Genk KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht STVV KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht STVV Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen KAS Eupen Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem Royal Antwerp Round 2 KAA Gent KAS Eupen Round 17 YR KV Mechelen KVC Westerlo Round 2 Royal Antwerp Club Brugge KV Round 17 Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk Cercle Brugge KSV Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent Standard de Liège Standard de Liège STVV KV Oostende Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège STVV Cercle Brugge KSV KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk KVC Westerlo Sporting Lokeren STVV Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk Standard de Liège KV Oostende KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent STVV KV Oostende Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem Round 3 Club Brugge KV YR KV Mechelen Round 18 KVC Westerlo Zulte Waregem Round 3 Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren Round 18 Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi Sporting Charleroi Cercle Brugge KSV RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende KV Oostende STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Antwerp STVV KAA Gent STVV Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren Cercle Brugge KSV Waasland-Beveren KVC Westerlo STVV KV Kortrijk KRC Genk KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Royal Antwerp Zulte Waregem KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège Round 4 KVC Westerlo Standard de Liège Round 19 Standard de Liège KAA Gent Round 4 Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren Round 19 Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV STVV , KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron , Club Brugge KV STVV KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi YR KV Mechelen Cercle Brugge KSV Standard de Liège KAA Gent Cercle Brugge KSV YR KV Mechelen Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron KVC Westerlo KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk STVV KRC Genk KAS Eupen KV Oostende Zulte Waregem KRC Genk KV Oostende KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV STVV Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem KV Oostende KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht Round 5 Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht Round 20 KVC Westerlo Waasland-Beveren Round 5 Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège Round 20 Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Royal Antwerp KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende YR KV Mechelen KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende KAA Gent Cercle Brugge KSV KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk KV Oostende KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège KAS Eupen KRC Genk KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi STVV KRC Genk KV Oostende Club Brugge KV STVV Sporting Lokeren Sporting Lokeren YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV STVV Standard de Liège KAS Eupen Cercle Brugge KSV KRC Genk STVV Zulte Waregem KVC Westerlo KAS Eupen KRC Genk Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron Round 6 KVC Westerlo STVV Round 21 YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht Round 6 Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen Round 21 Club Brugge KV KAA Gent KAA Gent Standard de Liège Standard de Liège KAS Eupen KAA Gent Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk KV Oostende YR KV Mechelen KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV Cercle Brugge KSV KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi Sporting Charleroi STVV Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron Cercle Brugge KSV KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk KVC Westerlo KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi STVV RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht STVV Waasland-Beveren Royal Antwerp Zulte Waregem KRC Genk Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen KRC Genk Round 7 Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Round 22 KVC Westerlo Club Brugge KV Round 7 Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk Round 22 Royal Antwerp Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk KAA Gent KAA Gent STVV Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron Cercle Brugge KSV KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège KRC Genk Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk KV Oostende Zulte Waregem STVV Cercle Brugge KSV Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk STVV Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen STVV KAS Eupen KVC Westerlo KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem KAA Gent Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV Round 8 KVC Westerlo Sporting Lokeren Round 23 KVC Westerlo KV Kortrijk Round 8 Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht Round 23 Club Brugge KV Cercle Brugge KSV Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent KV Oostende Standard de Liège YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende KRC Genk KRC Genk KAA Gent KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent STVV KAS Eupen KRC Genk Royal Antwerp STVV RSC Anderlecht STVV Waasland-Beveren Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi STVV Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem Cercle Brugge KSV Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht Round 9 YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk Round 24 Club Brugge KV KAA Gent Round 9 Royal Antwerp KRC Genk Round 24 Royal Antwerp KV Oostende Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen STVV KAA Gent STVV KAA Gent KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi KVC Westerlo Standard de Liège KVC Westerlo Cercle Brugge KSV Waasland-Beveren Cercle Brugge KSV Zulte Waregem KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem STVV Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende KAS Eupen KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren STVV Round 10 Club Brugge KV KVC Westerlo Round 25 KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht Round 10 Royal Antwerp Zulte Waregem Round 25 Club Brugge KV Royal Antwerp KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen YR KV Mechelen Club Brugge KV KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège Cercle Brugge KSV KV Kortrijk KV Oostende KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem KV Oostende Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi STVV KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren STVV KRC Genk KRC Genk Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende STVV KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège STVV KVC Westerlo KRC Genk Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen KAA Gent KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Round 11 KVC Westerlo Royal Excel Mouscron Round 26 KVC Westerlo KV Oostende Round 11 Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron Round 26 KAA Gent Royal Antwerp KAA Gent Club Brugge KV KAA Gent KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège KAA Gent Cercle Brugge KSV RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Cercle Brugge KSV KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem STVV KAS Eupen STVV Royal Antwerp KRC Genk Zulte Waregem KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren STVV Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen STVV Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen Round 12 Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen Round 27 KVC Westerlo KAA Gent Round 12 Royal Antwerp KAA Gent Round 27 Royal Antwerp STVV Standard de Liège KRC Genk Club Brugge KV KRC Genk Cercle Brugge KSV Club Brugge KV Club Brugge KV KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk KV Kortrijk KAA Gent KV Oostende KVC Westerlo Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht STVV Royal Excel Mouscron STVV RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren STVV YR KV Mechelen KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren Cercle Brugge KSV Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen Round 13 KVC Westerlo RSC Anderlecht Round 28 Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi Round 13 Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège Round 28 KAA Gent Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk KRC Genk Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Cercle Brugge KSV Royal Antwerp KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende KAA Gent KAA Gent KAS Eupen Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren YR KV Mechelen Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht KVC Westerlo KV Kortrijk STVV KV Oostende KRC Genk KV Kortrijk STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi STVV Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht Cercle Brugge KSV STVV Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht Round 14 KAA Gent KVC Westerlo Round 29 KVC Westerlo KAS Eupen Round 14 Cercle Brugge KSV KAA Gent Round 29 Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk Royal Antwerp Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen KAA Gent Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent KRC Genk KV Kortrijk KV Kortrijk YR KV Mechelen Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren Waasland-Beveren STVV KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht STVV Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron STVV Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk KRC Genk Cercle Brugge KSV Zulte Waregem KV Oostende KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem STVV Round 15 KVC Westerlo KRC Genk Round 30 YR KV Mechelen KAA Gent Round 15 Royal Antwerp Cercle Brugge KSV Round 30 KAA Gent KV Oostende YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège KAA Gent KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren KVC Westerlo Standard de Liège KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV STVV Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren STVV STVV Sporting Lokeren STVV KAA Gent KAS Eupen KV Oostende KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem KRC Genk KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk Table G-3: Tournament Schedule 2016- Table G-4: Tournament Schedule 2018- 2017: 2-Round Special Period 2019: 4-Round Special Period

113

Round 1 Royal Antwerp STVV Round 16 KAA Gent Club Brugge KV Club Brugge KV KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren STVV Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Round 2 KAA Gent Zulte Waregem Round 17 Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen Standard de Liège Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende STVV Sporting Lokeren STVV Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen KRC Genk Zulte Waregem Royal Antwerp Round 3 Club Brugge KV Royal Antwerp Round 18 Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk YR KV Mechelen Club Brugge KV STVV RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende KV Kortrijk KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen Round 4 Royal Antwerp Zulte Waregem Round 19 Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent KAS Eupen , KAA Gent KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen KAS Eupen Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende KV Kortrijk KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren STVV STVV Zulte Waregem Round 5 Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège Round 20 YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk Royal Antwerp Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk KV Oostende KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren STVV KAA Gent KRC Genk STVV KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen Royal Antwerp Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk Round 6 KAA Gent Standard de Liège Round 21 Royal Antwerp KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen Royal Antwerp Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren STVV KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV STVV YR KV Mechelen KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende Round 7 Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen Round 22 Royal Antwerp YR KV Mechelen Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV KV Oostende KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen KV Oostende KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk STVV RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren STVV Standard de Liège Round 8 YR KV Mechelen KAA Gent Round 23 YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège Standard de Liège KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi STVV KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren Waasland-Beveren Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen KV Oostende KAS Eupen STVV Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem KAA Gent Round 9 Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht Round 24 Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège YR KV Mechelen YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent KRC Genk KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen STVV Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem STVV KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem Round 10 Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren Round 25 Club Brugge KV YR KV Mechelen Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent STVV KAA Gent KV Kortrijk KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem KV Oostende Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht STVV KRC Genk KRC Genk KAS Eupen KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège Round 11 Royal Antwerp Sporting Charleroi Round 26 Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen STVV YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent KRC Genk Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht STVV KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen Standard de Liège KAS Eupen KAA Gent Zulte Waregem KRC Genk Zulte Waregem KV Oostende Round 12 YR KV Mechelen Club Brugge KV Round 27 Royal Antwerp Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi YR KV Mechelen Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk STVV KV Kortrijk KV Oostende KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht STVV Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk KRC Genk Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron Round 13 Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren Round 28 Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen KAA Gent KV Oostende KAA Gent Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem KV Oostende Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem STVV KAS Eupen KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron STVV Sporting Charleroi Round 14 Royal Antwerp KV Oostende Round 29 Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV KRC Genk Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège KAA Gent Standard de Liège STVV KV Kortrijk KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron STVV KAS Eupen YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen Round 15 Royal Antwerp KAA Gent Round 30 KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk KV Oostende STVV Sporting Charleroi Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk Zulte Waregem KRC Genk KV Kortrijk STVV KV Oostende KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren Table G-5: Tournament Schedule 2017- 2018: 4-Round Special Period

114

H. Resulting Tournament Schedules: Fairness Approach 4

Round 1 Royal Antwerp Club Brugge KV Round 16 Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht Round 1 Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi Round 16 Royal Antwerp KV Oostende Cercle Brugge KSV KAA Gent KAA Gent STVV KAA Gent KV Oostende YR KV Mechelen STVV KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Cercle Brugge KSV Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk KRC Genk KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren STVV Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen STVV YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem KRC Genk Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Round 2 Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem Round 17 Club Brugge KV KAA Gent Round 2 Royal Antwerp KAA Gent Round 17 Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen Club Brugge KV Club Brugge KV YR KV Mechelen Standard de Liège Cercle Brugge KSV KV Oostende Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège STVV KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende STVV RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende KV Kortrijk KV Oostende Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht STVV KRC Genk KV Kortrijk STVV Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen KRC Genk Zulte Waregem Round 3 Royal Antwerp KRC Genk Round 18 Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk Round 3 Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren Round 18 YR KV Mechelen KAA Gent Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent KV Oostende KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk Cercle Brugge KSV Standard de Liège KV Oostende YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron STVV Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht Cercle Brugge KSV Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent STVV KV Kortrijk STVV KAA Gent KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht STVV Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen KRC Genk Zulte Waregem Royal Antwerp Round 4 KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren Round 19 Royal Antwerp STVV Round 4 Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht Round 19 Royal Antwerp STVV Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Charleroi , Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi , Club Brugge KV KRC Genk KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen KAS Eupen KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk KAA Gent Standard de Liège KV Oostende KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk KV Oostende KV Oostende KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi STVV Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren Royal Antwerp KRC Genk Cercle Brugge KSV Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem STVV Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège Round 5 Royal Antwerp Zulte Waregem Round 20 Cercle Brugge KSV Zulte Waregem Round 5 KAA Gent Club Brugge KV Round 20 Royal Antwerp YR KV Mechelen KAA Gent Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen Royal Antwerp Club Brugge KV KAA Gent Cercle Brugge KSV STVV Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk KV Oostende Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk KRC Genk Standard de Liège KRC Genk Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk KAS Eupen STVV RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk KRC Genk KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron STVV Standard de Liège Round 6 Club Brugge KV KRC Genk Round 21 Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren Round 6 Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Round 21 KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende Standard de Liège KAA Gent Cercle Brugge KSV KV Kortrijk KRC Genk Standard de Liège KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron Cercle Brugge KSV Standard de Liège STVV Sporting Charleroi Royal Antwerp Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen KV Oostende Club Brugge KV STVV Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen KRC Genk STVV KAA Gent KAS Eupen STVV Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk Round 7 Royal Antwerp KV Oostende Round 22 Club Brugge KV Cercle Brugge KSV Round 7 Royal Antwerp Zulte Waregem Round 22 Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk KAA Gent Standard de Liège KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent Zulte Waregem Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk STVV Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV KV Oostende KV Kortrijk KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk KAA Gent KRC Genk STVV KRC Genk STVV KAS Eupen STVV Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen Royal Antwerp Round 8 Cercle Brugge KSV Waasland-Beveren Round 23 Royal Antwerp Sporting Charleroi Round 8 Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren Round 23 Royal Antwerp KRC Genk Standard de Liège KRC Genk Cercle Brugge KSV KV Oostende KAA Gent KV Kortrijk YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège KAS Eupen Standard de Liège YR KV Mechelen Standard de Liège KAS Eupen KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi STVV KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende Royal Antwerp KV Oostende KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren STVV Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV STVV KRC Genk Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV Round 9 Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen Round 24 Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht Round 9 Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron Round 24 Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Standard de Liège KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV KAA Gent KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende KRC Genk KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende STVV Zulte Waregem STVV KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Cercle Brugge KSV STVV KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem Cercle Brugge KSV Zulte Waregem STVV KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen KV Oostende Round 10 Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren Round 25 Club Brugge KV Royal Antwerp Round 10 YR KV Mechelen Zulte Waregem Round 25 KAA Gent STVV Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège KAA Gent KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende KAA Gent KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Cercle Brugge KSV RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht STVV KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem STVV KV Oostende STVV RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren Cercle Brugge KSV Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent KRC Genk KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen KV Oostende Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège KAS Eupen Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen Round 11 Cercle Brugge KSV KRC Genk Round 26 Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège Round 11 Club Brugge KV Royal Antwerp Round 26 Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem Cercle Brugge KSV RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk STVV Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Zulte Waregem KV Oostende KAS Eupen KV Oostende KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem STVV KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron STVV Waasland-Beveren STVV Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem KRC Genk KAS Eupen YR KV Mechelen Round 12 Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron Round 27 KAA Gent Zulte Waregem Round 12 Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen Round 27 Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen Cercle Brugge KSV KAS Eupen Cercle Brugge KSV KV Kortrijk YR KV Mechelen Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège KAA Gent Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht RSC Anderlecht Royal Antwerp Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren STVV Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende STVV Club Brugge KV KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren STVV Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi STVV Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem KAA Gent KAS Eupen Royal Antwerp Zulte Waregem KAA Gent Zulte Waregem KV Oostende Round 13 Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron Round 28 Club Brugge KV STVV Round 13 Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem Round 28 Royal Antwerp Club Brugge KV KAA Gent Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège Royal Antwerp KAA Gent KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende STVV YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk KV Oostende Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Charleroi Cercle Brugge KSV RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende STVV Zulte Waregem KRC Genk KAA Gent KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron STVV Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem Round 14 KAA Gent KV Kortrijk Round 29 Royal Antwerp KAA Gent Round 14 Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren Round 29 Royal Antwerp Sporting Charleroi Cercle Brugge KSV Club Brugge KV Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV STVV Standard de Liège Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège KAA Gent Standard de Liège Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende KV Kortrijk YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren Cercle Brugge KSV Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren STVV STVV KAS Eupen KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht STVV Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen Round 15 Royal Antwerp Cercle Brugge KSV Round 30 KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi Round 15 KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron Round 30 KAA Gent Royal Antwerp Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren Cercle Brugge KSV Royal Antwerp YR KV Mechelen KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi STVV Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège KRC Genk Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen KAA Gent STVV Royal Excel Mouscron STVV Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem KV Oostende KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV STVV KV Oostende Table H-1: Tournament Schedule 2018- Table H-2: Tournament Schedule 2017- 2019: 4-Round Special Period 2018: 4-Round Special Period

115

Round 1 KAA Gent KV Oostende Round 16 KVC Westerlo Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen Standard de Liège YR KV Mechelen STVV KV Kortrijk KVC Westerlo KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV KRC Genk KAS Eupen KRC Genk KV Oostende STVV Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen Round 2 KVC Westerlo Sporting Lokeren Round 17 KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège STVV Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende KV Kortrijk KV Oostende KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht STVV KVC Westerlo Zulte Waregem KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV Round 3 YR KV Mechelen Club Brugge KV Round 18 Club Brugge KV STVV Standard de Liège KV Oostende KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren STVV RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren KVC Westerlo KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem KVC Westerlo Zulte Waregem KRC Genk Round 4 KVC Westerlo YR KV Mechelen Round 19 KVC Westerlo Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem , Standard de Liège YR KV Mechelen KAA Gent KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende KV Oostende STVV KRC Genk Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen KAA Gent Round 5 KVC Westerlo KV Oostende Round 20 KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi YR KV Mechelen KVC Westerlo Standard de Liège KRC Genk Standard de Liège KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron STVV YR KV Mechelen KRC Genk STVV KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV Round 6 Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren Round 21 KVC Westerlo Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen KAA Gent Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem KV Oostende KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron KVC Westerlo Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem STVV KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende STVV Standard de Liège KAS Eupen Standard de Liège KAS Eupen KRC Genk Round 7 KVC Westerlo RSC Anderlecht Round 22 Club Brugge KV KAA Gent KAA Gent KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi STVV YR KV Mechelen KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren STVV Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen KVC Westerlo Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk Round 8 Club Brugge KV KRC Genk Round 23 KVC Westerlo KRC Genk Standard de Liège KVC Westerlo KAA Gent Zulte Waregem KV Oostende YR KV Mechelen YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron STVV Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem STVV KAS Eupen Round 9 KVC Westerlo KAS Eupen Round 24 Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV KV Oostende KAA Gent KRC Genk Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht KVC Westerlo Royal Excel Mouscron STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi STVV KV Oostende KRC Genk KAA Gent KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren Round 10 KAA Gent STVV Round 25 KVC Westerlo Standard de Liège YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen KRC Genk KVC Westerlo Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem STVV Round 11 KAA Gent Club Brugge KV Round 26 KVC Westerlo Club Brugge KV YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren YR KV Mechelen Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen Standard de Liège KAA Gent KV Oostende KRC Genk KV Kortrijk STVV RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen STVV KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren KVC Westerlo Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem Round 12 KVC Westerlo STVV Round 27 KAA Gent KVC Westerlo Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht STVV Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen KV Oostende KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht Round 13 KVC Westerlo KAA Gent Round 28 KVC Westerlo KV Kortrijk YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV YR KV Mechelen Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen KV Oostende Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen KRC Genk Zulte Waregem STVV Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren STVV Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk Round 14 Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen Round 29 KVC Westerlo Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent Standard de Liège KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen KRC Genk Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi KVC Westerlo RSC Anderlecht STVV KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV STVV Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem KV Oostende Round 15 Club Brugge KV KVC Westerlo Round 30 Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende KVC Westerlo Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen STVV STVV KAA Gent Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège Table H-3: Tournament Schedule 2016- 2017: 4-Round Special Period

116

I. Resulting Tournament Schedules: Additional Approach 1

Round 1 Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen Round 16 Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem Round 1 Royal Antwerp KAA Gent Round 16 Royal Antwerp Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège KAA Gent KAA Gent Royal Antwerp YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Standard de Liège KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren Cercle Brugge KSV KRC Genk Cercle Brugge KSV KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi STVV Waasland-Beveren STVV KAS Eupen STVV Standard de Liège STVV KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen Round 2 Royal Antwerp Club Brugge KV Round 17 Royal Antwerp Cercle Brugge KSV Round 2 Club Brugge KV STVV Round 17 YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège KAA Gent KRC Genk Standard de Liège KAA Gent Cercle Brugge KSV KV Kortrijk KV Kortrijk STVV Standard de Liège YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron STVV KRC Genk Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen STVV Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV Round 3 Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht Round 18 KAA Gent KV Kortrijk Round 3 Royal Antwerp KRC Genk Round 18 Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent KAS Eupen Cercle Brugge KSV KAS Eupen YR KV Mechelen KAA Gent Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende Royal Antwerp Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende KV Kortrijk KV Oostende KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Antwerp KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi STVV Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen STVV Sporting Lokeren STVV Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV STVV Zulte Waregem Zulte Waregem Cercle Brugge KSV Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège Round 4 Royal Antwerp KV Oostende Round 19 Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron Round 4 YR KV Mechelen Royal Antwerp Round 19 Club Brugge KV KAA Gent Cercle Brugge KSV STVV , Cercle Brugge KSV RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi , Standard de Liège KRC Genk KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende KRC Genk Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV KRC Genk KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren STVV Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent KRC Genk KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent KAS Eupen Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen STVV Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht Round 5 Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht Round 20 Club Brugge KV Cercle Brugge KSV Round 5 Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem Round 20 Royal Antwerp KV Oostende Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent Standard de Liège KAA Gent Zulte Waregem KAA Gent STVV Standard de Liège KRC Genk KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège Cercle Brugge KSV Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège STVV Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren STVV Royal Antwerp KV Oostende YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk KAS Eupen KRC Genk Zulte Waregem Zulte Waregem KV Oostende STVV Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV Round 6 Cercle Brugge KSV KV Oostende Round 21 Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren Round 6 Royal Antwerp Sporting Charleroi Round 21 Club Brugge KV Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk KAA Gent Cercle Brugge KSV Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen KRC Genk KV Oostende KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège Standard de Liège KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht STVV Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren STVV Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV STVV Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV KRC Genk KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron Round 7 Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk Round 22 Club Brugge KV Royal Antwerp Round 7 Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège Round 22 Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent Cercle Brugge KSV KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent KAS Eupen KAA Gent Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren STVV KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron STVV Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk STVV Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen KV Oostende KAS Eupen KAA Gent KRC Genk Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren Cercle Brugge KSV Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren Waasland-Beveren STVV Round 8 KAA Gent Club Brugge KV Round 23 Royal Antwerp Zulte Waregem Round 8 Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk Round 23 Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren Cercle Brugge KSV KRC Genk Cercle Brugge KSV Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent KV Oostende Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV YR KV Mechelen STVV RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren Royal Antwerp Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent Standard de Liège KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi STVV Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem STVV YR KV Mechelen KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren STVV KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen KV Oostende Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège Round 9 Royal Antwerp KAA Gent Round 24 Club Brugge KV KAA Gent Round 9 Club Brugge KV KRC Genk Round 24 KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren YR KV Mechelen KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk Royal Antwerp KV Oostende Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen STVV KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht Cercle Brugge KSV STVV Cercle Brugge KSV Waasland-Beveren Royal Antwerp KV Oostende STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk STVV Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem Round 10 KAA Gent KRC Genk Round 25 KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren Round 10 Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht Round 25 Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Charleroi Cercle Brugge KSV Zulte Waregem KAA Gent STVV Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen STVV KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren Royal Antwerp KRC Genk KV Oostende KV Oostende KAS Eupen STVV KAA Gent KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Standard de Liège KRC Genk KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem KV Oostende Round 11 Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen Round 26 Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren Round 11 Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren Round 26 KAA Gent Royal Antwerp Club Brugge KV STVV Club Brugge KV KRC Genk KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège YR KV Mechelen Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège Standard de Liège STVV RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem KV Oostende KAA Gent KV Oostende Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent STVV KRC Genk KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron Cercle Brugge KSV Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen YR KV Mechelen KRC Genk STVV KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron Round 12 KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi Round 27 KAA Gent Standard de Liège Round 12 Royal Antwerp Club Brugge KV Round 27 Royal Antwerp YR KV Mechelen Cercle Brugge KSV Royal Antwerp Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Standard de Liège KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende KV Oostende Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège STVV KV Kortrijk KRC Genk KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV STVV Zulte Waregem KRC Genk Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi STVV Sporting Lokeren STVV RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem KRC Genk Round 13 Royal Antwerp STVV Round 28 Royal Antwerp KRC Genk Round 13 Club Brugge KV YR KV Mechelen Round 28 YR KV Mechelen Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk KV Oostende KV Kortrijk STVV Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent KV Oostende KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi Cercle Brugge KSV Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk KV Oostende STVV Sporting Lokeren Royal Antwerp KRC Genk Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem KAA Gent Zulte Waregem STVV KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren Round 14 KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron Round 29 Royal Antwerp Sporting Charleroi Round 14 Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen Round 29 Royal Antwerp STVV Cercle Brugge KSV Club Brugge KV KAA Gent KV Oostende KAA Gent Club Brugge KV Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi Cercle Brugge KSV Standard de Liège YR KV Mechelen Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende KRC Genk Royal Antwerp KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht STVV RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren STVV STVV KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren Round 15 Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège Round 30 Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron Round 15 Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht Round 30 YR KV Mechelen Standard de Liège Cercle Brugge KSV KAA Gent Standard de Liège Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk KRC Genk KV Kortrijk Cercle Brugge KSV KV Kortrijk YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi STVV RSC Anderlecht Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende KRC Genk KAA Gent KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren STVV KAA Gent KAS Eupen KRC Genk STVV Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem STVV Zulte Waregem KRC Genk Zulte Waregem KAA Gent KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem Table I-1: Tournament Schedule 2018- Table I-2: Tournament Schedule 2017- 2019: 2-Round Special Period 2018: 2-Round Special Period

117

Round 1 KVC Westerlo Club Brugge KV Round 16 Club Brugge KV KVC Westerlo Round 1 Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron Round 16 Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen Standard de Liège KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège KAA Gent KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent KV Oostende KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi Royal Antwerp KV Oostende Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk KV Oostende KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren STVV Sporting Lokeren Cercle Brugge KSV KRC Genk Cercle Brugge KSV STVV Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron STVV Waasland-Beveren STVV KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron Round 2 KAA Gent KV Kortrijk Round 17 KVC Westerlo RSC Anderlecht Round 2 Royal Antwerp Club Brugge KV Round 17 Royal Antwerp Cercle Brugge KSV Standard de Liège STVV Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen KAA Gent KV Oostende Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège KV Oostende KVC Westerlo YR KV Mechelen Royal Excel Mouscron Cercle Brugge KSV Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren Sporting Lokeren STVV Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem STVV Waasland-Beveren Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen KAA Gent KAS Eupen KRC Genk Zulte Waregem KV Oostende KAS Eupen STVV Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren Round 3 KVC Westerlo Royal Excel Mouscron Round 18 KAA Gent STVV Round 3 Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht Round 18 KAA Gent Royal Antwerp Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren Cercle Brugge KSV KAS Eupen YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège KAS Eupen KV Oostende Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem KV Oostende KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Antwerp KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi STVV KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen STVV Sporting Lokeren STVV Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège KAS Eupen KVC Westerlo Zulte Waregem Cercle Brugge KSV Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Round 4 KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht Round 19 KVC Westerlo Standard de Liège Round 4 Royal Antwerp KV Oostende Round 19 Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi , Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren Cercle Brugge KSV STVV , Cercle Brugge KSV RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk STVV YR KV Mechelen KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk STVV Sporting Lokeren KVC Westerlo KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent KRC Genk Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende KAS Eupen YR KV Mechelen KRC Genk Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège KRC Genk KAA Gent Zulte Waregem KRC Genk STVV KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren Round 5 KVC Westerlo Waasland-Beveren Round 20 KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren Round 5 Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk Round 20 Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV Cercle Brugge KSV KAA Gent Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège KRC Genk KAA Gent KAS Eupen Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk KV Oostende Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht STVV KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren KVC Westerlo KV Oostende Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk KAA Gent KAS Eupen STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen Royal Antwerp STVV YR KV Mechelen Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV KRC Genk STVV Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk Round 6 KAA Gent KVC Westerlo Round 21 KVC Westerlo YR KV Mechelen Round 6 Cercle Brugge KSV KRC Genk Round 21 Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège YR KV Mechelen KRC Genk Club Brugge KV KAA Gent KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège Cercle Brugge KSV Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende KV Kortrijk KAA Gent KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht Royal Antwerp Sporting Charleroi STVV RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk KAS Eupen STVV KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren STVV STVV Standard de Liège KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren Round 7 KVC Westerlo KAS Eupen Round 22 KAA Gent KRC Genk Round 7 Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen Round 22 Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV YR KV Mechelen YR KV Mechelen STVV Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège KV Oostende KAA Gent Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège KRC Genk KV Oostende KV Kortrijk KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren STVV Royal Antwerp KRC Genk Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron KVC Westerlo Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht STVV RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren Cercle Brugge KSV Zulte Waregem KV Oostende Round 8 KAA Gent Zulte Waregem Round 23 KVC Westerlo KAA Gent Round 8 KAA Gent Club Brugge KV Round 23 Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren Cercle Brugge KSV KV Kortrijk Cercle Brugge KSV Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège KVC Westerlo KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen STVV Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht STVV Royal Excel Mouscron STVV KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem Royal Antwerp KRC Genk KAS Eupen Round 9 KVC Westerlo STVV Round 24 KAA Gent Standard de Liège Round 9 Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren Round 24 Club Brugge KV KRC Genk Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV STVV Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège KAA Gent KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Royal Antwerp KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Cercle Brugge KSV Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent STVV Cercle Brugge KSV KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren STVV KVC Westerlo Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen KRC Genk Zulte Waregem Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren Round 10 KAA Gent Club Brugge KV Round 25 KVC Westerlo Sporting Charleroi Round 10 KAA Gent KRC Genk Round 25 KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen KVC Westerlo Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron Cercle Brugge KSV Royal Excel Mouscron Cercle Brugge KSV Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem KV Oostende YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht STVV KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende KRC Genk STVV Waasland-Beveren Royal Antwerp KRC Genk KV Oostende STVV KRC Genk KAS Eupen KAA Gent KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht STVV Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV Round 11 KVC Westerlo KV Kortrijk Round 26 KAA Gent KV Oostende Round 11 Royal Antwerp STVV Round 26 Royal Antwerp Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk KVC Westerlo Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège Cercle Brugge KSV Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht Cercle Brugge KSV Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron STVV Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren STVV Zulte Waregem STVV Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk KRC Genk Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen Round 12 Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem Round 27 KVC Westerlo Sporting Lokeren Round 12 KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi Round 27 KAA Gent Standard de Liège KAA Gent KAS Eupen YR KV Mechelen Club Brugge KV Cercle Brugge KSV Royal Antwerp Cercle Brugge KSV KV Oostende KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende STVV Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht KVC Westerlo Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk STVV KV Kortrijk KRC Genk Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV STVV Zulte Waregem STVV KV Oostende KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem KAA Gent Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk Round 13 YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht Round 28 KVC Westerlo KRC Genk Round 13 Royal Antwerp KAA Gent Round 28 Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende Club Brugge KV Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk KRC Genk Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk KVC Westerlo Standard de Liège KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Cercle Brugge KSV STVV Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi STVV Royal Excel Mouscron STVV KV Oostende STVV KAS Eupen Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen KAS Eupen Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem KRC Genk Round 14 KVC Westerlo Zulte Waregem Round 29 YR KV Mechelen KAA Gent Round 14 KAA Gent KV Kortrijk Round 29 Royal Antwerp Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV STVV Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent STVV KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende KAS Eupen Standard de Liège Royal Antwerp Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège KV Oostende Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk KRC Genk KRC Genk KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren STVV Club Brugge KV KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht STVV RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende KAS Eupen KV Oostende Zulte Waregem KVC Westerlo Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen KAS Eupen Standard de Liège Round 15 YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk Round 30 KVC Westerlo KV Oostende Round 15 Royal Antwerp KRC Genk Round 30 Club Brugge KV Royal Antwerp Sporting Charleroi KVC Westerlo Club Brugge KV KRC Genk Cercle Brugge KSV KAA Gent Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende Standard de Liège KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi Cercle Brugge KSV KRC Genk Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende KAS Eupen STVV KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht STVV Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem STVV Zulte Waregem KAA Gent Table I-3: Tournament Schedule 2016-2017: Table I-4: Tournament Schedule 2018- 2-Round Special Period 2019: 4-Round Special Period

118

Round 1 Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège Round 16 Royal Antwerp Zulte Waregem Round 1 KVC Westerlo Club Brugge KV Round 16 Club Brugge KV KVC Westerlo YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren YR KV Mechelen KAS Eupen KAA Gent KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk KAA Gent Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège KV Oostende Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk KAA Gent KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk STVV Zulte Waregem STVV Royal Excel Mouscron STVV Waasland-Beveren Waasland-Beveren STVV KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem KV Oostende KAS Eupen YR KV Mechelen Round 2 Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen Round 17 YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende Round 2 KAA Gent Zulte Waregem Round 17 KVC Westerlo KAA Gent KAA Gent KV Oostende Standard de Liège Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège STVV Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen Standard de Liège YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk KRC Genk KV Oostende KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk STVV Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht RSC Anderlecht Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem STVV KAS Eupen KVC Westerlo Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège Round 3 Royal Antwerp KRC Genk Round 18 Royal Antwerp Sporting Charleroi Round 3 KVC Westerlo Waasland-Beveren Round 18 KAA Gent STVV YR KV Mechelen KAA Gent Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk KV Kortrijk YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk KV Oostende KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron KVC Westerlo STVV Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk STVV KAS Eupen STVV KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi Round 4 YR KV Mechelen Royal Antwerp Round 19 Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht Round 4 KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht Round 19 KVC Westerlo Standard de Liège Standard de Liège KAA Gent , Standard de Liège KRC Genk Standard de Liège KVC Westerlo , Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk STVV YR KV Mechelen Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV KV Oostende KAS Eupen KRC Genk KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren STVV Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen KAA Gent KAS Eupen KV Oostende KRC Genk Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem Zulte Waregem KV Oostende Zulte Waregem KRC Genk STVV KV Kortrijk Round 5 Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège Round 20 Royal Antwerp Club Brugge KV Round 5 KVC Westerlo YR KV Mechelen Round 20 KAA Gent KV Oostende KAA Gent Royal Antwerp KAA Gent KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen KVC Westerlo KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen STVV Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen Standard de Liège KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk KAS Eupen KRC Genk Standard de Liège KAS Eupen STVV STVV YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende STVV Zulte Waregem Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV Round 6 Royal Antwerp KV Oostende Round 21 Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren Round 6 KAA Gent KVC Westerlo Round 21 KVC Westerlo KAS Eupen KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk YR KV Mechelen KRC Genk KV Oostende KRC Genk Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi YR KV Mechelen Standard de Liège KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk KV Oostende KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht RSC Anderlecht STVV Sporting Lokeren Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk STVV Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron STVV KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk STVV Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem KAA Gent KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron Round 7 Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron Round 22 Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen Round 7 KVC Westerlo KV Kortrijk Round 22 KAA Gent Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent Club Brugge KV Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen STVV Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende YR KV Mechelen Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi STVV KRC Genk KV Oostende KV Kortrijk KRC Genk KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende KAS Eupen Royal Antwerp KRC Genk STVV STVV KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren KVC Westerlo Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen KRC Genk Round 8 Royal Antwerp STVV Round 23 Royal Antwerp YR KV Mechelen Round 8 KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren Round 23 KVC Westerlo RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV KV Oostende YR KV Mechelen KRC Genk Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk Standard de Liège KAS Eupen KV Oostende KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi STVV KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen STVV Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht KVC Westerlo STVV Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende Zulte Waregem KAA Gent Round 9 Club Brugge KV KRC Genk Round 24 KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht Round 9 KVC Westerlo Sporting Charleroi Round 24 KAA Gent Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège YR KV Mechelen Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV YR KV Mechelen YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège KAA Gent KV Kortrijk KVC Westerlo Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende STVV Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem STVV KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren Royal Antwerp KV Oostende KAS Eupen KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren STVV KRC Genk Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren STVV Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen Round 10 Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron Round 25 Royal Antwerp KAA Gent Round 10 KAA Gent KRC Genk Round 25 KVC Westerlo STVV KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi YR KV Mechelen Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi YR KV Mechelen KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi STVV Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht STVV KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège KRC Genk KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen YR KV Mechelen STVV KVC Westerlo KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk KRC Genk KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen Round 11 Club Brugge KV YR KV Mechelen Round 26 KAA Gent STVV Round 11 KVC Westerlo Royal Excel Mouscron Round 26 KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk KV Oostende YR KV Mechelen Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi KVC Westerlo Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk STVV KAA Gent KV Oostende Royal Antwerp KRC Genk STVV Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen KRC Genk KRC Genk Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht STVV KV Oostende Zulte Waregem Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV Round 12 Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren Round 27 Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren Round 12 Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem Round 27 KVC Westerlo Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk KAA Gent KAS Eupen YR KV Mechelen Club Brugge KV YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk KAA Gent Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk KRC Genk Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi Sporting Charleroi YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren KVC Westerlo KRC Genk KV Kortrijk STVV Club Brugge KV STVV RSC Anderlecht STVV YR KV Mechelen KAS Eupen KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem STVV Round 13 Club Brugge KV KAA Gent Round 28 YR KV Mechelen Club Brugge KV Round 13 YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht Round 28 KVC Westerlo Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV STVV KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi Royal Antwerp KV Oostende STVV KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem STVV Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk KAS Eupen STVV Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem KVC Westerlo Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen Round 14 Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk Round 29 Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht Round 14 KVC Westerlo KRC Genk Round 29 YR KV Mechelen Standard de Liège KAA Gent KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV STVV Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent KRC Genk KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège YR KV Mechelen Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk KVC Westerlo KRC Genk Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem STVV Sporting Lokeren STVV Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren STVV Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht Round 15 Club Brugge KV Royal Antwerp Round 30 YR KV Mechelen Standard de Liège Round 15 YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren Round 30 KVC Westerlo KV Oostende Standard de Liège STVV KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent Club Brugge KV KRC Genk KV Kortrijk KAA Gent KV Oostende KAA Gent KV Oostende KVC Westerlo KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem KRC Genk Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren YR KV Mechelen KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren STVV RSC Anderlecht RSC Anderlecht STVV KAS Eupen KV Oostende STVV Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren YR KV Mechelen Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem Table I-5: Tournament Schedule 2017- Table I-6: Tournament Schedule 2016- 2018: 4-Round Special Period 2017: 4-Round Special Period

119

J. Resulting Tournament Schedules: Additional Approach 2

Round 1 Royal Antwerp Sporting Charleroi Round 16 Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège Round 1 Club Brugge KV Royal Antwerp Round 16 YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende Club Brugge KV Cercle Brugge KSV KAA Gent STVV KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem KAA Gent Zulte Waregem Cercle Brugge KSV RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk KAA Gent Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen KV Oostende KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren STVV KRC Genk KV Oostende STVV KV Kortrijk STVV Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV Round 2 Cercle Brugge KSV KAA Gent Round 17 Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk Round 2 Royal Antwerp KAA Gent Round 17 Royal Antwerp KV Oostende KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège STVV KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Excel Mouscron Cercle Brugge KSV KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk Royal Antwerp STVV Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk STVV Sporting Lokeren STVV KV Oostende KAS Eupen KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem Royal Antwerp Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem KRC Genk Round 3 Royal Antwerp Club Brugge KV Round 18 Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht Round 3 Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège Round 18 KAA Gent Royal Antwerp Cercle Brugge KSV Royal Excel Mouscron Cercle Brugge KSV Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen KRC Genk KV Oostende Standard de Liège Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV YR KV Mechelen KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende KAA Gent KV Oostende Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht STVV STVV KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren STVV KRC Genk KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV Round 4 Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk Round 19 Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen Round 4 Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren Round 19 Royal Antwerp Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren , KAA Gent Cercle Brugge KSV KAA Gent Zulte Waregem , Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi Royal Antwerp Standard de Liège YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk STVV Standard de Liège KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi Royal Antwerp KV Oostende KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi Cercle Brugge KSV KRC Genk KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Zulte Waregem STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk KRC Genk KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège STVV KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Excel Mouscron STVV Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen Round 5 KAA Gent Standard de Liège Round 20 Cercle Brugge KSV Club Brugge KV Round 5 Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren Round 20 Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège STVV KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende KV Oostende YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron STVV Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk KAS Eupen KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi STVV Standard de Liège KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren Waasland-Beveren Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen STVV Waasland-Beveren Royal Antwerp Zulte Waregem KRC Genk Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen KRC Genk Round 6 Club Brugge KV STVV Round 21 Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren Round 6 Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen Round 21 Royal Antwerp YR KV Mechelen Standard de Liège Royal Antwerp Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège KV Oostende Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent KV Oostende Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren Waasland-Beveren Cercle Brugge KSV STVV KRC Genk STVV KAA Gent KRC Genk STVV Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen KAS Eupen Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem Zulte Waregem KAA Gent Round 7 Royal Antwerp Zulte Waregem Round 22 Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Round 7 Club Brugge KV KRC Genk Round 22 Royal Antwerp KRC Genk KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège KAA Gent Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk Cercle Brugge KSV Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk Cercle Brugge KSV KV Kortrijk YR KV Mechelen Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi STVV KV Oostende Royal Antwerp KV Oostende KAA Gent KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren YR KV Mechelen STVV KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi STVV KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende KAS Eupen Royal Antwerp STVV Waasland-Beveren Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron Round 8 Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren Round 23 Royal Antwerp KRC Genk Round 8 KAA Gent KV Kortrijk Round 23 KAA Gent Club Brugge KV KAA Gent Club Brugge KV Cercle Brugge KSV Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen Royal Antwerp YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren Cercle Brugge KSV KAS Eupen Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège KRC Genk KV Oostende KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi STVV RSC Anderlecht STVV RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren STVV RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV KRC Genk Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende KRC Genk Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi STVV KAS Eupen KAS Eupen Standard de Liège KAS Eupen Royal Antwerp Round 9 Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège Round 24 Royal Antwerp STVV Round 9 Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron Round 24 Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk KV Kortrijk KRC Genk Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV KAA Gent KAA Gent Standard de Liège KV Oostende Royal Antwerp KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren YR KV Mechelen Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège KRC Genk KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk KAA Gent KV Oostende KV Kortrijk KRC Genk Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen KAA Gent KAS Eupen Cercle Brugge KSV STVV RSC Anderlecht STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem STVV Zulte Waregem KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren Round 10 Royal Antwerp KAS Eupen Round 25 KAA Gent Royal Antwerp Round 10 Club Brugge KV KV Oostende Round 25 Club Brugge KV STVV KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht Cercle Brugge KSV STVV KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège KV Oostende Cercle Brugge KSV KV Oostende Standard de Liège KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem KRC Genk Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem KRC Genk Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk STVV Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Antwerp STVV Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège KAS Eupen KAA Gent Round 11 Royal Antwerp KAA Gent Round 26 KAA Gent KAS Eupen Round 11 Royal Antwerp STVV Round 26 Royal Antwerp Club Brugge KV Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi Cercle Brugge KSV Royal Antwerp KAA Gent KV Oostende KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren YR KV Mechelen Standard de Liège KV Oostende KAS Eupen KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren STVV Cercle Brugge KSV STVV RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi STVV KV Oostende Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem Round 12 KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi Round 27 Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron Round 12 Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen Round 27 Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht Cercle Brugge KSV KRC Genk Club Brugge KV KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen STVV Club Brugge KV YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem KAA Gent STVV KV Oostende Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk STVV KV Oostende Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht Royal Antwerp KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht Royal Antwerp KV Oostende KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren Cercle Brugge KSV Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège KAS Eupen STVV Zulte Waregem KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Round 13 Royal Antwerp Cercle Brugge KSV Round 28 Club Brugge KV Royal Antwerp Round 13 KAA Gent KAS Eupen Round 28 YR KV Mechelen Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège Royal Antwerp KAA Gent KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk KV Kortrijk Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende KRC Genk KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen KRC Genk Cercle Brugge KSV KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent STVV Sporting Lokeren STVV Zulte Waregem STVV Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem STVV Round 14 Cercle Brugge KSV KV Kortrijk Round 29 Royal Antwerp KV Oostende Round 14 Royal Antwerp Waasland-Beveren Round 29 Royal Antwerp Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège KAA Gent KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht Cercle Brugge KSV Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent KRC Genk KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren Royal Antwerp Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk STVV KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent STVV Club Brugge KV STVV Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk STVV YR KV Mechelen Round 15 Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren Round 30 Club Brugge KV KAA Gent Round 15 Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron Round 30 Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège Cercle Brugge KSV KV Kortrijk KRC Genk KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk KAA Gent KV Kortrijk Royal Antwerp Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk KV Oostende STVV Sporting Lokeren Royal Antwerp RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende STVV RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron STVV Royal Antwerp Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren STVV KAS Eupen KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem Cercle Brugge KSV KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem Royal Antwerp Zulte Waregem KV Oostende Table J-1: Tournament Schedule 2018-2019: Table J-2: Tournament Schedule 2017- 4-Round Special Period 2018: 4-Round Special Period

120

Round 1 KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen Round 16 KVC Westerlo Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht KVC Westerlo Standard de Liège YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende RSC Anderlecht STVV Club Brugge KV KRC Genk KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Sporting Charleroi STVV Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem Round 2 KVC Westerlo Zulte Waregem Round 17 Club Brugge KV STVV Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen Standard de Liège KVC Westerlo YR KV Mechelen KRC Genk KV Kortrijk KAS Eupen Standard de Liège STVV Sporting Charleroi KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren Zulte Waregem Round 3 KVC Westerlo Royal Excel Mouscron Round 18 KAA Gent KVC Westerlo KAA Gent Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen Club Brugge KV YR KV Mechelen Sporting Lokeren KV Oostende STVV KV Kortrijk STVV RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem Sporting Charleroi Round 4 Standard de Liège KAA Gent Round 19 KVC Westerlo RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk , Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht YR KV Mechelen YR KV Mechelen KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren KVC Westerlo Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk KAS Eupen KRC Genk Zulte Waregem STVV KV Oostende STVV KAA Gent Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende Round 5 KVC Westerlo KAS Eupen Round 20 KVC Westerlo Waasland-Beveren Club Brugge KV Standard de Liège KAA Gent Club Brugge KV KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron Royal Excel Mouscron STVV Sporting Lokeren RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem STVV Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen KRC Genk Round 6 KAA Gent Sporting Lokeren Round 21 Club Brugge KV KV Oostende YR KV Mechelen Standard de Liège YR KV Mechelen KVC Westerlo RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège KAS Eupen KRC Genk Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi STVV Sporting Charleroi Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren KVC Westerlo KRC Genk STVV KAS Eupen KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren Zulte Waregem KV Oostende Zulte Waregem KAA Gent Round 7 KVC Westerlo KAA Gent Round 22 KVC Westerlo KRC Genk Club Brugge KV YR KV Mechelen KAA Gent KV Oostende Standard de Liège Royal Excel Mouscron Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht KV Kortrijk Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem STVV KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren YR KV Mechelen KAS Eupen Sporting Lokeren STVV KAS Eupen Round 8 KAA Gent STVV Round 23 Club Brugge KV Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk YR KV Mechelen RSC Anderlecht Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège Sporting Charleroi STVV RSC Anderlecht Zulte Waregem KV Oostende KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende KRC Genk Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent KRC Genk KVC Westerlo KAS Eupen KVC Westerlo Waasland-Beveren KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem Sporting Lokeren Round 9 Club Brugge KV RSC Anderlecht Round 24 KVC Westerlo Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent Sporting Charleroi KAA Gent Standard de Liège Standard de Liège KRC Genk KV Kortrijk YR KV Mechelen KV Kortrijk Royal Excel Mouscron KV Oostende Zulte Waregem KV Oostende KVC Westerlo RSC Anderlecht Club Brugge KV STVV Sporting Lokeren Sporting Lokeren KAS Eupen Waasland-Beveren YR KV Mechelen KRC Genk Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem KAS Eupen STVV Waasland-Beveren Round 10 KVC Westerlo Standard de Liège Round 25 Standard de Liège Sporting Lokeren Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV YR KV Mechelen STVV RSC Anderlecht KAA Gent RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron YR KV Mechelen Royal Excel Mouscron Sporting Charleroi STVV KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren Waasland-Beveren Waasland-Beveren KRC Genk KAS Eupen KAA Gent KAS Eupen KV Oostende Zulte Waregem KRC Genk Zulte Waregem KVC Westerlo Round 11 YR KV Mechelen Royal Excel Mouscron Round 26 Club Brugge KV KVC Westerlo Standard de Liège Zulte Waregem KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron KV Kortrijk KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen KV Oostende Sporting Charleroi KVC Westerlo KV Kortrijk Waasland-Beveren KV Oostende Club Brugge KV Sporting Lokeren STVV KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen STVV Zulte Waregem Standard de Liège Round 12 KVC Westerlo YR KV Mechelen Round 27 KVC Westerlo STVV Club Brugge KV Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem KAA Gent Waasland-Beveren KAA Gent KV Kortrijk KV Oostende KAS Eupen YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron KRC Genk KV Oostende KRC Genk Sporting Lokeren Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht Standard de Liège STVV RSC Anderlecht Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi Round 13 KVC Westerlo Club Brugge KV Round 28 KVC Westerlo KV Oostende Standard de Liège Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège Club Brugge KV KV Kortrijk KV Oostende KV Kortrijk Sporting Lokeren Sporting Charleroi KRC Genk Sporting Charleroi KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk KAA Gent Royal Excel Mouscron KAA Gent STVV YR KV Mechelen KAS Eupen YR KV Mechelen Waasland-Beveren Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem STVV Zulte Waregem RSC Anderlecht Round 14 Club Brugge KV KAA Gent Round 29 YR KV Mechelen KAA Gent YR KV Mechelen Zulte Waregem KV Kortrijk Sporting Charleroi Standard de Liège RSC Anderlecht KV Oostende Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk KVC Westerlo Royal Excel Mouscron KVC Westerlo Sporting Charleroi Sporting Lokeren KRC Genk RSC Anderlecht KRC Genk KV Oostende STVV Zulte Waregem Waasland-Beveren STVV Waasland-Beveren Standard de Liège KAS Eupen Royal Excel Mouscron KAS Eupen Club Brugge KV Round 15 KAA Gent KRC Genk Round 30 KVC Westerlo KV Kortrijk YR KV Mechelen Sporting Charleroi Club Brugge KV KRC Genk KV Oostende Standard de Liège KAA Gent KAS Eupen RSC Anderlecht KAS Eupen Standard de Liège KV Oostende Royal Excel Mouscron Waasland-Beveren Sporting Charleroi Waasland-Beveren Sporting Lokeren KV Kortrijk RSC Anderlecht STVV STVV KVC Westerlo Sporting Lokeren Royal Excel Mouscron Zulte Waregem Club Brugge KV Zulte Waregem YR KV Mechelen Table J-3: Tournament Schedule 2016- 2017: 4-Round Special Period

121

K. Home-Away Patterns

Round 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9101112131415161718192021222324252627282930 Royal Antwerp 010110101010101010101010010110 Club Brugge KV 101010101010100110010101010101 KAA Gent 011010110101010101010100101010 Cercle Brugge KSV 010101010101011001101010101010 Standard de Liège 101010100101010100110101010101 KV Kortrijk 100101001010101010101011010101 Sporting Charleroi 101011001010101010101010100101 KV Oostende 101010101010010101001011010101 RSC Anderlecht 010101011010101011001010101010 Royal Excel Mouscron 011010101010101001010101011010 Sporting Lokeren 100101010101010110101010100101 KRC Genk 010110101010010101101010101010 STVV 101001010101010101010101101001 Waasland-Beveren 010100110101010101010101011010 KAS Eupen 010101010101101010110100101010 Zulte Waregem 101001010101101010010101010101 Table K-1: Home-Away Patterns Season 2018-2019

Round 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9101112131415161718192021222324252627282930 Royal Antwerp 101001010101010101010110101010 Club Brugge KV 010010101010101101101010101010 KAA Gent 010011010101010101010101011010 YR KV Mechelen 101101010101010010010101010101 Standard de Liège 010101010100101010110101010110 KV Kortrijk 010110101010101010101001010101 Sporting Charleroi 101010110100101010100101011010 KV Oostende 101010100101010101001101010101 RSC Anderlecht 010101001011010101011010100101 Royal Excel Mouscron 010101011010101010110010101010 Sporting Lokeren 101010100110101010101010101001 KRC Genk 100110010101010101010101010101 STVV 101010101011010101001010101001 Waasland-Beveren 010101011001010101010101010110 KAS Eupen 101100101010101010101010100101 Zulte Waregem 011001101010101010101010101010 Table K-2: Home-Away Patterns Season 2017-2018

Round 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9101112131415161718192021222324252627282930 KVC Westerlo 101010101010010010101010101101 Club Brugge KV 001010101011010110101010100101 KAA Gent 010101010101010101010101010101 YR KV Mechelen 101001010110101010110101001010 Standard de Liège 010101011010010101010100101101 KV Kortrijk 100101010101010011010101010101 Sporting Charleroi 101010110101001010101001010110 KV Oostende 011010101010101100101010101010 RSC Anderlecht 010011010101010101100101010101 Royal Excel Mouscron 110101010100101001010101011010 Sporting Lokeren 010110101001010101001010110101 KRC Genk 101010101010101010101010101010 STVV 101010100101101010101011010010 Waasland-Beveren 010101010101101101010101010010 KAS Eupen 010101001010110101010110101001 Zulte Waregem 101100101010101010011010101010

Table K-3: Home-Away Patterns Season 2016-2017

122