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Refs unwittingly give home teams the advantage. So says wikipedia and Sports Illustrated



wallyback

Well-known member
Jun 22, 2011
1,406
Brighton
Sports Illustrated, in a 17 January 2011 report, reported that home crowds, rigor of travel for visiting teams, scheduling, and unique home field characteristics, were not factors in giving home teams an advantage. The journal concluded that it was favorable treatment by game officials and referees that conferred advantages on home teams. Sports Illustrated stated that sports officials are unwittingly and psychologically influenced by home crowds and the influence is significant enough to effect the outcomes of sporting events in favor of the home team.
Other research have found that crowd support, travel fatigue, geographical distance, pitch familiarity, and referee bias do not have a strong effect when each factor is considered alone suggesting that it is the combination of several different factors that creates the overall home advantage effect. An evolutionary psychology explanation for the home advantage effect refers to observed behavioral and physiological responses in animals when they are defending their home territory against intruders. This causes a rise in aggression and testosterone levels in the defenders. A similar effects has been observed in football with testosterone levels being significantly higher in home games than in away games. Goalkeepers, the last line of defense, have particularly strong testosterone changes when playing against a bitter rival as compared to a training season. How testosterone may influence results is unclear but may include but cognitive effects such as motivation and physiological effects such as reaction time.
 


vegster

Sanity Clause
May 5, 2008
27,866
Could that be why so many leagues play home and away to even it out ?
 


wallyback

Well-known member
Jun 22, 2011
1,406
Brighton
I always thought it was the crowd effect, not the refs.
 




wallyback

Well-known member
Jun 22, 2011
1,406
Brighton
You would think that professional refs should not be swayed.

Or even go the opposite way if they are aware of this
 




Acker79

Well-known member
NSC Patreon
Nov 15, 2008
31,763
Brighton
So, home crowds are not a factor, but referees give home advantage because they are swayed by the home crowds?
 




Goldstone Rapper

Rediffusion PlayerofYear
Jan 19, 2009
14,865
BN3 7DE
Refs unwittingly give home teams the advantage. So says wikipedia and Sports ...

The article can't seem to make up its mind. On the one hand it says home crowds are not a factor. Next, it says it has a massive effect on refereeing decisions.
 




Goldstone Rapper

Rediffusion PlayerofYear
Jan 19, 2009
14,865
BN3 7DE
Refs unwittingly give home teams the advantage. So says wikipedia and Sports ...

I think the article is rather overstating the influence referees have over the outcome of games. Generally, teams do perform better at home than away with or without refereeing decisions going their way.
 





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