University of Wolverhampton academics finds crowds do sway referees

Thomas Webb
Alastair Pearson
Alan Nevill

Centre for European & International Studies Research

Press/Media: Research cited

Description

University researchers have discovered crowds hold the cards in football when it comes to referee's decisions.

They carried out an investigation into referees behaviour when it comes to making decisions in the top four professional leagues in the country.

The study - 'No crowds, no home advantage in football during the COVID-19 season: Are crowds able to manipulate all but the best referees behaviour?' has been published in the Journal of Global Sport Management.

The research was carried out by project lead Alan Nevill from the University of Wolverhampton and experts Dr Tom Webb and Alastair Pearson at the University of Portsmouth and compared the number of home and away red and yellow cards awarded in the ‘no crowd’ COVID-19 2020-21 season with ones awarded during the previous ten ‘crowd’ seasons from 2010-11 to 2019-20. It confirmed without crowds, there was no home advantage in football during the 2020-21 season.

Period	24 Nov 2022 → 28 Nov 2022

Media coverage

Title	https://mydroll.com/research-shows-crowds-hold-the-cards-in-referees-decisions/
Degree of recognition	International
Media type	Web
Country/Territory	United Kingdom
Date	26/11/22
Description	A team of university researchers have found that football crowds are influencing referees’ behaviour in the top four professional Leagues in England.
URL	https://mydroll.com/research-shows-crowds-hold-the-cards-in-referees-decisions/
Persons	Thomas Webb

Title	Research shows crowds hold the cards in referees' decisions
Degree of recognition	National
Media type	Print
Country/Territory	United Kingdom
Date	25/11/22
URL	https://phys.org/news/2022-11-crowds-cards-referees-decisions.html
Persons	Thomas Webb

Title	University of Wolverhampton academics finds crowds do sway referees
Degree of recognition	National
Media type	Print
Country/Territory	United Kingdom
Date	24/11/22
Description	University researchers have discovered crowds hold the cards in football when it comes to referee's decisions.
URL	https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2022/11/24/university-of-wolverhampton-academics-finds-crowds-do-sway-referees/
Persons	Thomas Webb, Alastair Pearson, Alan Nevill

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Media contributions

Title	Referees gave 'significantly more cards to away players' in front of crowds than they did during the pandemic, according to a study which could change the way football is officiated
Degree of recognition	National
Media name/outlet	Daily Mail
Media type	Web
Country/Territory	United Kingdom
Date	28/11/22
Description	Referees gave 'significantly more cards' to away players in front of full crowds. The pandemic offered a chance to look at home advantage in football games. A scientific study found that lower league referees were more swayed by fans. League One and Two officials do not get the same support as top-flight referees.
URL	https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-11476817/Referees-gave-significantly-cards-away-players-crowds-pandemic.html
Persons	Thomas Webb

Title	Research Shows Crowds Hold the Cards in Referees’ Decisions
Degree of recognition	International
Media type	Web
Country/Territory	United Kingdom
Date	26/11/22
Description	A team of university researchers have found that football crowds are influencing referees’ behaviour in the top four professional Leagues in England. The study, published in the Journal of Global Sport Management, confirmed that without crowds, there was no home advantage in association football during the Covid pandemic.
URL	https://www.psychreg.org/research-shows-crowds-hold-cards-referees-decisions/
Persons	Thomas Webb

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