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Across any five matches, there must be a three-two split between home and away fixtures. No team can play more than two consecutive home or away matches. Clubs are also kept home and away around FA Cup ties wherever possible, and never start or finish a season with two home or two away games running.
Beyond these rules sit further layers of complexity. Atos must prevent local rivals from playing at home on the same day, while factoring in policing capacity across the country.
Travel demands receive particular attention during peak periods. Boxing Day and New Year’ s Day fixtures, for instance, are arranged to minimise the distance fans must travel.
A process built on compromise Glenn Thompson, Technical Architect and fixture-list compiler at Atos UK & Ireland, describes the pressures that emerge as the schedule nears completion.
He says:“ There are pinch points in the process where it can become stressful, culminating in several days in a room
66 July 2026