Eliminating supportive crowds reduces referee bias

Citation

Reade JJ, Schreyer D & Singleton C (2022) Eliminating supportive crowds reduces referee bias. Economic Inquiry, 60 (3), pp. 1416-1436. https://doi.org/10.1111/ecin.13063

Abstract
We use a series of historical natural experiments in association football to test whether social pressure from a home stadium crowd affected behavior and outcomes. The standout effect of an empty stadium was that referees cautioned visiting players less often, by over a third of a yellow card per match or once for every 22 fouls committed. Stadium crowds caused referees to favor the home team in their decision-making. Empty stadiums appear to have reduced the overall home advantage in the final outcomes of football matches, but we cannot statistically reject no effect.

Keywords
attendance; coronavirus; home advantage; natural experiments; referee bias; social pressure

Journal
Economic Inquiry: Volume 60, Issue 3

• Closeddoors Reade Singleton