Abstract
ABSTRACT Could aggressive soccer play reflect generalized aggressive behaviour in society? In particular, could aggressive soccer play be associated with low levels of social capital? I examine these questions using the average number of red and yellow cards per game during the 2019/2020 season as an indicator of aggressive soccer play in 86 different professional leagues. I capture social capital using six different indicators measuring rule of law and generalized trust. My regressions control for several factors potentially associated with aggressive soccer play including a measure of the quality of the league. I find that social capital is robust and inversely related to the number of cards booked per game. That is, the social environment that players navigate on a day-to-day basis is reflected in the field, i.e. players play the way they live.
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