Can socio-cultural predictors help explain the home advantage gap in European men’s and women’s football?

Abstract

ABSTRACT The present study aims to explore the socio-cultural predictors (SCp) effects in home advantage (HA) in European men’s and women’s national football leagues. A total of 69,223 matches in 21 countries were analysed. Exploratory regression modelling for HA gender gaps (HAGG) included each country’s SCp (KOF-Cultural Globalization [KOFCuGI]; Global Gender Gap [GGGI]; macro-regionlocation); male and female league competitive balance (MCB, WCB). The HA was demonstrated in 41 leagues with a large HAGG effect (4.3%) in 14 countries (men, 58.4 ± 3.6%; women, 54.1 ± 3.9%; p< 0.001; ES = 0.84). The KOFCuGI (= 0.19, p< 0.001) and WCB (= 5.40, p< 0.001) could explain moderate variance in HAGG (R 2 = 0.17, F(5,183) = 7.44, p< 0.001). The western region had the lowest HAGG with medium magnitude differences to the southern region (~3%; p< 0.05, ES = 0.54). The SCp may offer new approaches in studies of gender disparity in sport.