Empty stadiums have shrunk football teams’ home advantage
Officiating bias disappears without fans, but clubs still play better at home
LOCKDOWNS WERE particularly frustrating for football devotees, who had no live matches to watch while stuck at home. But the fans most pleased by the sport’s return may be statisticians. For them, empty stadiums are not a cheerless last resort, but rather a chance to tackle a great quandary: why do travelling teams tend to lose?
This article appeared in the Graphic detail section of the print edition under the headline “Home comforts”
From the July 25th 2020 edition
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