Between-seasons competitive balance in European football: review of existing and development of specially designed indices

2014 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasileios Manasis ◽  
Ioannis Ntzoufras
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Investigation ◽  
Complex Structure ◽  
Competitive Balance ◽  
Premier League ◽  
Sport League ◽  
European Football ◽  
Using Data ◽  
English Premier League ◽  
Relative Quality

AbstractCompetitive balance is a key issue for any professional sport league substantiated by its effect on demand for league games or other associated products. This work focuses on the measurement of between-seasons competitive balance, the longest time-wise dimension, which captures the relative quality of teams across seasons. The review of the existing indices examines their applicability in the context of European football. Given that domestic championships are multi-prized tournaments, as opposed to the more common North American unitary structure with a single prize, a set of specially designed indices that capture the complex structure of European football are introduced. An empirical investigation, using data from the English Premier League, further elucidates the main features of all appropriate indices by exploring their value and trend. It may be inferred that between-seasons competitive balance in England worsens through seasons mainly due to the very low ranking mobility of the top teams through seasons.

scholarly journals A longitudinal and comparative analysis of competitive balance in five European football leagues

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (5/6) ◽  
pp. 265-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Girish Ramchandani ◽  
Daniel Plumley ◽  
Sophie Boyes ◽  
Rob Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Big Five ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Significant Decline ◽  
Competitive Balance ◽  
Competition Intensity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Premier League ◽  
Sport League ◽  
European Football ◽  
English Premier League

Purpose This paper aims to provide empirical evidence on competitive balance in the “big five” European football leagues, namely, the English Premier League, French Ligue 1, German Bundesliga, Italian Serie A and Spanish La Liga. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses recognised measures of competitive balance to measure levels of concentration (within-season competitive balance) and dominance (between-season competitive balance) in the selected leagues over 22 seasons between 1995/96 and 2016/17. Findings French Ligue 1 emerged as the most balanced league in terms of both concentration and dominance measures. The analysis also points to a statistically significant decline in competitive balance in all leagues apart from Serie A (Italy). Originality/value The findings of this study are of concern for the league organisers. Competition intensity is a key component of a sport league, and a league that is dominated by one or a select few clubs is less attractive within the marketplace. This paper presents challenges at the league governance level for the five leagues examined.

scholarly journals Does size matter?

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 162-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Girish Ramchandani ◽  
Daniel Plumley ◽  
Harry Preston ◽  
Rob Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Competitive Balance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Premier League ◽  
European Football ◽  
Size Threshold ◽  
League Structure ◽  
Football Industry ◽  
Size Matter ◽  
English Premier League

PurposeThis paper aims to explore at what league size competitive balance reaches its best level through a longitudinal study and by using the English Premier League (EPL) as an example.Design/methodology/approachTo test the influence of league size on competitive balance in the EPL, the authors first calculated competitive balance scores for 22 seasons between 1995/96 and 2016/17 under the existing 20 team system. They then calculated a further ten normalised competitive balance scores for each EPL season by adjusting the league size to examine the league size threshold at which competitive balance in each season of the EPL was at its best level.FindingsThe analysis indicates that the current league structure of 20 teams compromises the overall level of competitive balance in the EPL in comparison with a league comprising between 10 and 19 teams. However, the authors cannot pinpoint the precise league size at which the EPL is most competitively balanced, as no significant differences were observed between the competitive balance indices for these league sizes.Originality/valueThe findings of this study have practical relevance for league organisers and the Union of European Football Associations given that they themselves have stated that competitive balance will be a big challenge for the European football industry in the coming years.

scholarly journals Financial fair play and competitive balance in the Premier League

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher John Freestone ◽  
Argyro Elisavet Manoli
Keyword(s):  
Fair Play ◽  
Competitive Balance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Premier League ◽  
Financial Fair Play ◽  
Financial Strength ◽  
European Football ◽  
Financial Power ◽  
English Premier League ◽  
Positive Effect

Purpose The introduction of financial fair play (FFP) regulations in 2011 was accompanied by criticism that they would have an adverse effect on competitive balance in European football. Counter-points were also expressed, suggesting that the opposite would occur; that they would actually increase competitive balance through reducing the importance of financial power. The lack of clarity and cohesion on this issue prompted this paper. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect FFP has had on competitive balance in the English Premier League. Design/methodology/approach The analysis conducted uses the Herfindahl Index of Competitive Balance as the primary method, and is supported by standard deviation of points analysis and a Scully-Noll ratio analysis, which together provide an indication of the level of competitive balance for each of the past 21 seasons, from 1995/1996 to 2015/2016. This examination allows for the trends in competitive balance to be identified, with emphasis drawn on the seasons after the introduction of the regulations. Findings The results provide no indication that FFP regulations have resulted in a decline in competitive balance in the EPL, instead hinting that a positive effect may have been caused. This positive effect exceeds the primary aim of the regulations and underlines their importance in the future stability of club football. Originality/value While underlining the need for further research on the topic, this study provides the first insights into the effects of FFP regulations on competitive balance in the EPL. These insights would support the view that FFP initiatives have begun to shift the focus of sporting competition away from financial strength towards more natural means of competition such as efficiency, innovation and good management.

Do match officials give preferential treatment to the strongest football teams? An analysis of four top European clubs

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 185-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Audrino
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Power ◽  
Causal Effect ◽  
Preferential Treatment ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Premier League ◽  
Football Clubs ◽  
European Football ◽  
Effect Estimation ◽  
English Premier League ◽  
General Opinion

Abstract We address the fiercely debated question of whether the strongest European football clubs get special, preferential treatment from match officials in their decisions on the teams’ players over the course of the teams’ trophy winning streaks. To give an empirical answer to this question, we apply a rigorous econometric analysis for causal effect estimation to a self-constructed data set. We consider the two clubs in the Italian Serie A that experienced a prolonged winning streak during the period 2006–2016, namely Internazionale Milan (Inter) and Juventus Turin, as well as one team from the German Bundesliga (Borussia Dortmund) and one from the English Premier League (Manchester United) that also experienced a winning streak during the same period. This allows us to perform an analysis with enough statistical power to be able to estimate properly the effect of interest. The general opinion among fans, sports journalists, and insiders that the strongest clubs are favored by match officials’ decisions is supported only by the results of the analysis we run for Juventus, whereas for the other clubs under investigation, we did not find any significant bias. During its winning streak, more yellow cards and total booking points (an aggregated measure of yellow and red cards) were given to Juventus opponents. These effects are not only statistically significant, but also have a sizeable impact.

scholarly journals Comparison of Goal Scoring Patterns in “The Big Five” European Football Leagues

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chunhua Li ◽  
Yangqing Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Big Five ◽  
The Other ◽  
Valuable Addition ◽  
Premier League ◽  
Significant Pattern ◽  
Time Period ◽  
European Football ◽  
The Mean ◽  
English Premier League

The objective of the study was to compare goal scoring patterns among the “Big Five” European football leagues during the 2009/2010–2018/2019 seasons. A total of 18 pattern dimensions related to the offense pattern, the shooting situation and the scoring time period were evaluated. Kruskal–Wallis analyses revealed significant pattern differences among the five leagues. The Spanish La Liga showed a greater proportion of goals from throw-ins. The English Premier League had a higher tendency to score from corner kicks. The German Bundesliga had the greatest number of goals from counterattacks and indirect free kicks, and the Italian Serie A had the greatest proportion of penalties. Ligue 1’s scoring ability is weaker than that of the other leagues, especially Bundesliga. The Bundesliga had an overwhelming advantage in goals scored on big chances with assists, while the Premier League had an advantage in goals scored with assists that were not from big chances. However, the differences among the five leagues in the mean goals scored in the last 15 min and the goals from elaborate attacks and direct free kicks were not statistically significant. These results provide a valuable addition to the knowledge of different goal patterns of each league and allow us to better understand the differences among the leagues.

scholarly journals The unintended consequence of Financial Fair Play

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 118-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Plumley ◽  
Girish Mohan Ramchandani ◽  
Robert Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Financial Stability ◽  
Causal Link ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
Fair Play ◽  
Competitive Balance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Financial Fair Play ◽  
Before And After ◽  
European Football ◽  
English Premier League

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine competitive balance in European football leagues before and after the inception of Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations by Union of European Football Associations in 2011, designed to bring about financial stability and improve competitive balance in the European game. Design/methodology/approach The research focuses on the top division football leagues in England (English Premier League), Germany (Bundesliga), France (Ligue 1), Italy (Serie A) and Spain (La Liga). The paper is organised into two distinct time periods: pre-FFP, comprising the six seasons between 2005/2006 and 2010/2011; and post-FFP, comprising the six seasons between 2011/2012 and 2016/2017. The paper uses recognised measures of concentration and dominance to measure competitive balance. Findings The results show a statistically significant decline in competitive balance post-FFP for leagues in Spain, Germany and France but not for England and Italy. Furthermore, the results report significantly higher levels of concentration and dominance by a select number of clubs in Germany. Originality/value The paper is one of the first to analyse competitive balance in this way both pre- and post-FFP. Whilst the paper cannot demonstrate a causal link between FFP and competitive balance, there are strong indications that competitive balance has been adversely affected (for some leagues) since the regulations have been imposed. To that end, the paper argues that FFP has had “unintended consequences” in respect of competitive balance.

scholarly journals The impact of investors on transfer fees in the English Premier League: A study of the ownership structures

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (3, special issue) ◽  
pp. 241-256
Author(s):  
Lukas Richau ◽  
Florian Follert ◽  
Monika Frenger ◽  
Eike Emrich
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Ownership Concentration ◽  
Foreign Investors ◽  
Premier League ◽  
European Football ◽  
Transfer Fees ◽  
Player Performance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
English Premier League ◽  
Positive Effect

Transfer fees in European football have experienced a rapid increase in the past years. Simultaneously, an increasing number of domestic and recently foreign investors — who are assumed to further increase team spending in European football — have entered the football market by becoming club owners. In light of these developments, fears associated with an increasing influence of foreign (majority) investors from the financial as well as the emotional fan perspective have increased. Given the rather limited number of empirical studies focusing on the impact of investors on transfer fees, we shed further light on this topic. Based on a data sample including transfer fees, player characteristics, player performance and team performance from 2012–2013 to 2018–2019 for the English Premier League, we estimate OLS regressions and quantile regressions to analyze the effects of ownership concentration and investor origin on the amount of individual transfer fees. While we do not find strong evidence that ownership concentration increases the willingness to pay, we find fairly consistent results that foreign investors are willing to pay a premium compared to domestic investors. Our results also indicate that especially foreign investors who own a majority share of a club have a positive effect on transfer fees for the upper quantiles.

A Bias-Corrected Estimator of Competitive Balance in Sports Leagues

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 479-508 ◽  
Author(s):  
Young Hoon Lee ◽  
Yongdai Kim ◽  
Sara Kim
Keyword(s):  
Standard Deviation ◽  
Competitive Balance ◽  
Season Length ◽  
Sample Standard Deviation ◽  
Mean Squared Errors ◽  
Premier League ◽  
Conventional Measure ◽  
Sports Leagues ◽  
Korea Baseball Organization ◽  
English Premier League

The ratio of the actual standard deviation (ASD) to the idealized standard deviation of win percentages (RSD) is the conventional measure of competitive balance (CB). RSD is designed to control for the effect of season length on the sample standard deviation of win percentages (ASD). Theoretically, the RSD should be greater than 1, but empirical values below 1 have been found in previous studies. This article employs a mathematical statistics approach to evaluate the statistical properties of RSD and ASD. In doing so, this study finds that RSD is constructed by an invalid normalization approach and that ASD is biased. It also presents a bias-corrected standard deviation (BCSD) as a new estimator of the standard deviation of true win probabilities. Results from the simulations confirm the following: (i) ASD is prone to underestimate CB levels when the number of games is small, (ii) the RSD values become unreasonably large when the number of games is large, and (iii) BCSD performs well with respect to mean bias and root mean squared errors. According to empirical analysis of the English Premier League (EPL) and the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), BCSD shows that the KBO was more competitively balanced than the EPL between 2000 and 2015, while the RSD implies that the two leagues were roughly equal.

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