Analyzing the Impact of Crowd Absence on English Football Team Performance During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about significant disruptions across society, particularly impacting the realm of sports, including English football. One of the most notable changes was the absence of crowds during matches, which deviated from the vibrant atmosphere traditionally associated with football stadiums. This study seeks to conduct a comprehensive analysis of how the absence of crowds affected the performance of English football teams during the pandemic seasons, specifically focusing on the English Premier League (EPL) in the 2020-2021 season. The EPL, like many other leagues, had to adapt to the pandemic by playing matches behind closed doors. This was a significant departure from the norm, as the home crowd historically influenced team performance. We conducted a quantitative analysis, examining metrics like goals scored, goals conceded, wins, and losses for all 20 EPL teams in both the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 seasons. The impact of empty stadiums varied; teams heavily reliant on home support, such as Liverpool and Manchester United, were more affected, as were attacking teams like Manchester City and Chelsea. This analysis provided valuable insights into crowd absence effects, supported by statistical tests. The study also explores factors like home advantage, player motivation, communication dynamics, and the psychological impact of empty stadiums while assessing teams' resilience in adapting to unprecedented circumstances. Keywords: Football dynamics, English football, Crowd absence, Stadium atmosphere and Sports performance.