Football with no fans: study reveals effect of empty stadiums during the Covid-19 pandemic
With the 2021-2022 English Premier League season kicking off with crowds of fans cheering on their teams, new research has revealed the hugely negative effect of playing professional football games in empty stadiums last season, with home advantage almost halved.
Home advantage describes the benefit a sports team playing at their own venue is said to enjoy over the visiting team. This could be attributed to the effect of fans on the players or referee; playing in familiar surroundings and the effects of travel on the visiting team.
The new study, by researchers at Northumbria University and the University of Leeds, used the unique opportunity presented by the Covid-19 pandemic to test whether home advantage applies when fans are not present in the stands.
The researchers found th...