Soccer Championship Research Articles

INJURIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN THE 2021 PAULISTA SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP IN BRAZIL.

To assess the incidence and characteristics of injuries that occurred during the 2021 season of the Paulista Soccer Championship during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and to compare these characteristics before and after the championship interruption. A prospective study was conducted using an electronic form developed by the Medical Committee of the Paulista Soccer Federation. The results were sent by the team physicians of Series A1 after each round of the Paulista Soccer Championship. Series A1 presented 7.2 injuries per 1,000h of game time. Most injuries occurred within 31-45 min of the match, with muscle injuries being the most frequent and the lower limbs the most affected. Only 10% of injuries required surgery. The strikers were the most affected players and most injuries occurred in penalty-free movements. There was no statistical difference between pre- and post-interruption of the championship due to the pandemic. The incidence of injuries per 1,000h was below the average reported in the literature. Most injuries occurred in the lower limbs; muscle sprains were the most common type of injury, followed by sprains and fractures. MRI was the most commonly requested examination; and most injuries were classified as moderate. Overall, 10% of the injuries were treated surgically. There was no difference between pre- and post-championship interruption. Level of evidence VI, Descriptive epidemiology study.

Sponsorship of the 2024 European Soccer Championship in Germany: Overview, Perspectives, Special Features and Developments

Sponsorship of the 2024 European Soccer Championship in Germany: Overview, Perspectives, Special Features and Developments

INCREASED INCIDENCE OF INJURIES IN THE SÃO PAULO SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP POST-PANDEMIC.

Soccer shows a high incidence of injuries and its cause is multifactorial. The impacts of the coronavirus pandemic are unknown. This study aims to evaluate the incidence of injuries in the 2023 Campeonato Paulista de Futebol (São Paulo Soccer Championship) and compare it to the championships prior to the pandemic. This study was conducted by collecting data on injuries among players in the A1 Series of the 2023 São Paulo Soccer Championship. Injuries were recorded by each team's medical staff via an online questionnaire. The variables included: Type of Field, Weather, Temperature, Distance, Home Advantage, Age, Type and Location of Injury. The primary outcome is to evaluate the incidence of injuries, and the secondary outcomes are to analyze the relationship between the described variables, the observed incidence, and the comparison of data obtained from 2016 to 2019. In 2023, 76 injuries were recorded, an incidence of 22.1 injuries/1,000h. Muscle injuries (46.1%) and sprains (18.4%) were the most common. From 2016 to 2019, there was a decrease in the incidence of injuries per 1,000h, respectively: 24.2; 17.6; 14 and 10.5. the incidence in 2023 was 22.1 injuries/1,000h, which points to an increase compared to the pre-pandemic period. Level of Evidence II, Comparative Prospective Study.

Facilities Quality Assistance at the National Street Soccer Championship at Jasdam II Sriwijaya

The aim of this community service activity is to increase knowledge of the quality of facilities at the National Street Soccer Championship at Jasdam II Sriwijaya. The method is through mentoring with stages, namely 1) planning, 2) implementation, 3) evaluation. The subject is the team implementing the National Street Soccer Championship at Jasdam II Sriwijaya, totaling 30 people. The data collection technique uses a questionnaire with quantitative percentage data analysis. The result of community service activities was an increase in the knowledge of the team implementing the National Street Soccer Championship at Jasdam II Sriwijaya by 100% (30 people). Community service activities at Jasdam II Sriwijaya provide enormous benefits to the community. On the first day, the material on the quality of facilities in the preliminary round of the National Street Soccer Championship discussed the quality of the facilities, supervision of the facilities for the preliminary round of all teams that will compete according to the schedule of the championship committee to win the competition to enter the next round. On the second day, quality of facilities, monitoring of facilities for the semi-final and final rounds of the National Street Soccer Championship discussed the semi-final round consisting of 4 teams that will compete to win so they can play to the next stage, namely the final, the final is the last stage of the championship for determine the winner of the 2 teams that will compete.

Altruistic behavior and soccer: the effect of incidental happiness on charitable giving

AbstractThis study investigates the impact of incidental happiness associated with the outcome of the Dutch national soccer championship on charitable giving shortly after the decisive match. We use survey data in which participants were asked to make an anonymous donation of an earned endowment. For estimating the causal effect of happiness on charitable giving, we exploit the variation in the emotions of fans between and within teams using two complementary empirical approaches. The first approach is based on the preference of fans for local teams. We find that individuals living closer to the city of the new champions (Amsterdam) are happier and also more likely to donate to charity than individuals living further away. Importantly, distance to Amsterdam does not affect charitable giving in a placebo sample of individuals with no interest in soccer. The second approach exploits variation between different types of fans within teams. Allegiant fans, individuals who attended a match, are happier and more likely to donate to charity than “stay‐at‐home” fans when their team wins the title. Allegiant fans are less happy and less likely to donate than stay‐at‐home fans when their team does not win the title. Instrumental variable estimates suggest a large effect of incidental happiness on charitable giving.

Identifying Indigenous people: Visual appearance, filiation, and the experience of race in an “Indigenous” soccer championship and in everyday life in Otavalo, Ecuador

AbstractWhile Indigenous/mestizo distinction in Latin Americanist anthropology has been mainly thought of as a cultural and/or socioeconomic demarcation, I argue that a conceptualization in terms of race offers some valuable insights. Starting from a soccer championship in the Otavalo region of Ecuador, I show how otavaleño Indigenous people's historical and current experiences of racialization have shaped the criteria that they consider relevant to identification practices, and I illustrate how they build on these to act to some advantage. Building on the assemblage of what I call phenotypization—an extended notion of phenotype—and genealogy, otavaleños create spaces of identification control, striving to maintain the Indigenous/mestizo divide and a sense of belonging upon which they rely for economic activities. Favoring the notion of race, this study lays the groundwork for a Latin Americanist anthropology that considers Indigenous people as part of the same subaltern category as Afro‐descendants.

Experiences of Mire Sports: Sensory Encounters in Nature

Swamp soccer and swamp volleyball tournaments have been actively organized on Finnish mires throughout the twenty-first century, reflecting a change in the cultural relationship with mires. Joyful and festival-style team sports events on mires seem to be a modern trend, not only in Finland, but also in other European countries. This study focuses on mire sporting events in the Finnish context, asking: How do the sensory experiences of team play on mires affect the players’ relationship with mire, and also the cultural heritage associated with mires? The analysis is based on the theoretical framework of the ethnography of the senses, which is complemented by the concept of space. The research material was collected between 2020 and 2022 and consists of thematic interviews with 33 mire athletes, as well as observational material based on the World Swamp Volley and Swamp Soccer Championships held in Finland. The study shows that these humorous sports events emphasize the sense of community between the players. Playing in mires, sensing them, and getting dirty are key factors in this process. Fears of the mire familiar from folklore are forgotten when playing together in the mire. Mire sports bring new multisensory and entertaining elements to the traditional use of mires.

After scoring the first goal, is the team more vulnerable to suffer the equalizer soon after? An analysis of the Brazilian soccer Championship Serie A between 2011 and 2021

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether, after scoring a goal, the team becomes more vulnerable to conceding a goal soon after. A total of 518 results were collected and integrated the data of the present study. The independent Chi-square test was used to analyze the data. The values of adjusted residue were observed, and all values outside the range of -1.96 to 1.96 were considered. All analyzes were performed using α = 5%. The scoring goal equalizer moment happened in the first-quarter 109 matches (21.0%), second-quarter 156 matches (30.1%), third-quarter 127 matches (24.5%), and fourth-quarter 126 matches (24.3%), totalizing 518 (100%) matches, but no association between season and scoring goal equalizer moment (χ² (30) = 28.196, p>0.05; Cramer’s V test: 0.135). The data collected showed that the equalizing goal can occur at different moments of the game, not only right after the first goal is score.

Alive and kicking: suicide rates and major soccer events in Austria, Germany and Switzerland.

Major sporting events are postulated to reduce suicide rates by increased social connectedness, by identifying with winning teams, or, conversely, to increase suicide rates by the 'broken promise effect'. In our observational epidemiological study, we investigated changes in suicide rates between 1970 and 2017 in Austria, Germany and Switzerland during the European and World Soccer Championships in general, and on days that the home team played, won or lost. Combining all three studied nations no statistically significant change in the incidence of daily suicides during soccer championships compared to a control period was noted (38.29 ± 9.02 vs. 37.33 ± 10.58; incidence risk ratio = 1.03; 95% confidence interval: 1.01-1.05, P = 0.05). Essentially, no differences in the expected directions were found, and none remained statistically significant after correcting for multiple comparisons in subgroups for country, age and gender in all three studied countries. Compared to a control period, neither a significant difference in the respective national suicide rate was found after Germany's four championship victories nor after Austria's emotional only win over Germany. Our results do not support the assumption of increased social connectedness and, thus, lowered suicide risk during major sporting events or changes in suicide risk depending on the outcome of important games as predicted by the broken promise effect or changes in self-efficacy by identification with winning teams.

Relationship between the occurrence of cards, playing position and situational variables in starter and non-starter players in the Brazilian soccer first division championship

Purpose.To evaluate the moderating effect of the match starting status in the association of playing position and situational variables with the occurrence of punitive cards during Brazilian first-division soccer matches over three consecutive seasons.Methods.The present study evaluated 1,140 matches in three seasons of the Brazilian first-division soccer championship (2018, 2019 and 2020). This is a descriptive correlational study with a case-control design.Results.Over the three seasons, 5,490 cards were distributed. Match starting status moderated the association of the outcome with the playing position, current and final ranking position, season, match exposure time and minutes played. The starter’s midfield players were more likely (OR: 1.244, 95% CI: 1.155 to 1.341) to receive a card and forward players were less likely (OR: 0.912, 95% CI: 0.830 to 1.003) to receive a card than the defenders. The starter’s players were less likely to receive a card in the 2019 (OR: 0.889, 95% CI: 0.822 to 0.961) and 2020 (OR: 0.827, 95% CI: 0.764 to 0.896) seasons than in the 2018 season. Their (OR: 0.776, 95% CI: 0.532 to 1.140) and the non-starter’s (OR: 0.491, 95% CI: 0.210 to 1.272) players were less likely to receive a card when the match ended with goal difference (GD) 2 goals between the two teams. The nonstarter’s (OR: 1.136, 95% CI: 0.872 to 1.478) players received more cards when exposed to 25–50% of the total playing time. The match location was not associated with the occurrence of cards.Conclusions.The association of playing position and situational variables with the occurrence of cards is moderated by the players’ starting status (starter and non-starter) in the Brazilian first-division soccer championship.

PEDAGOGIA DA TRANSMISSÃO DO FUTEBOL DE MULHERES

ABSTRACT Starting from the Cultural Studies perspective and having as axes the analyzes of power and gender that exist in the context of Women's Soccer, this article aimed to analyze the curriculum operating in exhibitions of professional soccer games played by women. Exhibition soccer matches from the first phase of the Brazilian women's soccer championship A1 were observed, in a cut of the cultural artifact comprised by a YouTube channel, created in 2013, with soccer as the central subject of its content. Characterized as exploratory field research with a qualitative approach, analyses of the artifact's cut were carried out, in which three aspects of the curriculum present were more prominently observed: a parallel between women’s and men's soccer, the appreciation of women’s soccer and a discrediting of this practice and the women present there. These aspects are part of the Pedagogy of Transmission of Women's Soccer, in the way it is presented in the teaching-learning context that composed the cut of the artifact in this study2.

Transport reforms and its missing publics: Insights from marshrutka abolishment and transport ‘modernisation’ policies prior to FIFA World Cup 2018 in Volgograd, Russian Federation

Public transport modernisation policies in relation to mega events are increasingly prone to ready-made planning solutions and the application of globally recognised best practices. Locally, the implementation of global transport solutions is usually promoted as a unique window of opportunity, which should finally contribute to the greater good of city societies through smooth traffic flows and better service quality. In contrast to this frictionless narrative, the article refers to the empirical case of transport reforms in Volgograd, Russia, prior to the FIFA World Soccer Championship in 2018 and shows how poorly conceived transport modernisation policies can have a detrimental impact on local citizens. Concretely, it builds on the local attempt to replace a commercial minibus system with an insufficient public–private partnership-based bus network and develops an argument that the public transport reform was doomed to fail as local stakeholders remained excluded from decision making. Deriving from the empirical case, a pragmatist perspective on transport modernisation policies as urban issues of concern is introduced to examine how hegemonic governance tactics are effectively silencing crucial publics at stake, rendering voices of contestation marginalised. Lastly, it will be argued that public transport reforms in Volgograd, although contested and subversively undermined, challenge idealistic notions of public space, while they provide scope for experimental practice based on implicit local knowledge and cooperation in mobile space.

Epidemiology of Upper Limb Injuries in two major Brazilian Soccer Championships from 2016 to 2019

PurposeTo evaluate epidemiological data of upper limb injuries in professional athletes who participated in two major Brazilian soccer championships between 2016 and 2019.MethodsA prospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate the teams of two divisions over four seasons within the Brazilian Soccer Championship and the Paulista Soccer Championship. Clubs and their doctors were contacted to participate in the study and guided on the correct way to enter data via online platforms: Transfermarkt (Transfermarkt GmbH & Co. KG) and Survey Monkey (Momentive.AI). Demographic data, injury characteristics, and FIFA Incidence Formula were analyzed.ResultsOverall, the study analyzed 3,828 matches and 126,357 hours of play. Upper limb injuries were registered 169 times, representing 6.8% of total injuries, with a FIFA incidence of 1.34. Most lesions occurred in forward players (21.3%), the shoulder exhibited the highest number of injuries (63.3%). The player’s position was related to the location on the field where the injury occurred (p < 0.001); however, there was no relationship between the type of injury and the location on the body (p > 0.001). The average time to return to play was 19.1 days (range 0–200 days) and it was longer for goalkeepers. The necessity of surgical treatment was statistically associated with additional time to return to play (p < 0.001).ConclusionsShoulder injuries were the most frequent upper limb injury sustained during the two major Brazilian soccer championships. Forward players suffered the most upper limb injuries and goalkeepers experienced the longest time to return to play.

The Happiness for Italy's Victory at the European Soccer Championships Costs a "Happy Heart Syndrome".

The happy heart syndrome is less common than other stress cardiomyopathies but emergency doctors, cardiologists and all specialists in internal medicine should take into account this cardiomyopathy, which occurs in patients with previous positive emotions. It is triggered by opposite stressors to Takotsubo syndrome and sometimes it may be misdiagnosed. Beyond triggers it has some different clinical features, and the management is similar. It is a rare disease, and is therefore underdiagnosed.Everybody experiences positive emotions in life but only a small percentage develop stress cardiomyopathy. A susceptibility is needed to trigger these cardiomyopathies such as hyperthyroidism, which has to be promptly treated with an endocrinologist's help.In clinical practice it is common to diagnose stress cardiomyopathies without following up the patients. We need to follow up these patients especially looking for concomitant conditions such as hyperthyroidism or hypersympathetic activity, which could present during follow-up.

Negative Impact of the UEFA European Soccer Championship on Central Hemodynamics and Arterial Stiffness: A Multicenter Study.

(1) Background: watching sporting events may trigger cardiovascular events by elevating emotional stress levels. The underlying reasons and specific populations at risk are not well defined. (2) Methods: we conducted a multicenter prospective trial at three German sites during the UEFA Soccer EC 2012 and 2021 comprising 52 healthy participants (noCVD) and 18 patients hospitalized with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Subjects were studied during matches of the German national team (GP) as well as corresponding matches without German participation (noGP). Peripheral and central blood pressure (BP) and parameters of arterial stiffness were measured (Mobil-O-Graph™, I.E.M., Stolberg, Germany) before, during, and after the matches. (3) Results: in terms of CVD, peripheral as well as central BP and heart rate increased significantly during GP as well as noGP matches and remained elevated beyond the end of the matches. Likewise, arterial stiffness parameters and vascular resistance were higher during the matches and remained elevated after the matches. No consistent significant differences were found between GP and noGP matches. (4) Conclusions: this is the first study on real-life changes in hemodynamics during sport-associated emotional stress, with comparison between noCVD and CVD. We found that alterations were profound in CVD and remained elevated even after the matches.

P321 CASE REPORT AND LITERATURE REVIEW: THE HAPPINESS FOR ITALY’S VICTORY AT THE EUROPEAN SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIPS COSTS AN “HAPPY HEART SYNDROME”

Abstract Patient Presentation A 52 y/o female with history of arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, Bentall‘s previous intervention, presented to emergency department complaining dyspnea and oppressive chest pain which arose during celebrations for Italy‘s victory at the European soccer championship. According to increase in cardiac troponin level and ECG findings of subendocardial ischemia she was admitted to our Coronary Care Unit for acute coronary syndrome suspicious. Management transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) showed reduced left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF 37%) with apical and left ventricle medium segments akinesis associated with basal segments hyperkinesis with typical apical ballooning aspect. According to these findings, Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) suspicious overtook acute coronary syndrome. Despite low probability of coronary disease, she underwent coronary angiography which was normal. Eight days later, TTE showed completely recovery with normal LVEF. At the routine blood test we found not known hyperthyroidism without detectable antibodies; thyroid ultrasound showed some cystic lesion without any nodule. Thyroid scintigraphy was normal. Antithyroid medications were started and one month later complete normalization of thyroid hormones occurred. The patient was event–free after correction of the hyperthyroidism. Discussion “Happy heart syndrome” (HHS) is a TTS triggered by deep happiness and positive emotions. TTS is an usual form of acute cardiomyopathy characterized by reversible left ventricle apical ballooning which occurs in the absence of significant coronary artery disease. Although the exact cause of TTC remains unknown, several pathogenetic mechanisms have been suggested. Catecholamines seem to play a central role and we know that thyroid hormones interact with sympathetic nervous system so that hyperthyroidism is associated with hypersensitivity to catecholamines. Tako–Tsubo syndrome is usually triggered by negative stressors such as fright, grief, rage, other diseases. The role of positive emotions is not well known neither described. We assume that the mechanisms are similar but triggered by different emotions. HHS seems to be caused by pleasant emotional life events such as birthday party, son’s wedding and so many others. Both positive and negative life events could trigger TTS, nevertheless negative life events trigger TTS in almost 95% of the cases, so “broken hearts” are more frequent than “happy hearts”.

Match-Related Statistics Differentiating Winning and Losing Teams at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Soccer Championship.

This study investigated game-related statistics differentiating the winning and losings teams of matches during the 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) soccer tournament. The sample consisted of 38 games, with the data obtained from the InStat Scout platform. Data were analyzed using mean (M), SD, effect size (ES), structure coefficients (SCs), and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The results showed that the winning teams performed significantly better than the losing teams in terms of shots (M = 12.13, SD = 4.67, Z = −2.26, ES = 0.62), shots on target (M = 5.05, SD = 2.54, Z = −4.22, ES = 1.13), and shots from counter-attacks (M = 2.24, SD = 1.42, Z = −2.48, ES = 0.57). Shots on target (SC = 1.22), shots (SC = −0.73), fouls (SC = 0.60), total passes (SC = 0.44), and yellow cards (SC = −0.32) presented the highest discriminatory power. These findings highlight the key match performance variables which influence the game results and may assist coaches in developing and implementing team strategies to improve the likelihood of winning the AFCON championship.

Did the Absence of Crowd Support During the Covid-19 Pandemic Affect the Home Advantage in Brazilian Elite Soccer?

This study aimed to investigate the impact of crowd absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic on home advantage in Series A and B of professional Brazilian male soccer. Moreover, we sought to compare the home advantage between different competitive levels. Data from 2018 to 2020 Brazilian professional soccer championships (Series A and B) were analyzed, consisting of 2280 matches. The effect of home advantage was calculated in relation to the number of points won, the number of wins, goals scored and goals conceded. Our results indicated that home advantage was reduced in Serie A. Specifically, the 2020 (absence of the crowd) and 2019 seasons showed smaller home advantage compared to the 2018 season. On the other hand, Serie B analyses indicated no changes in home advantage over the seasons analyzed. The comparison of home advantage between competitive levels indicated higher home advantage in Serie A, exclusively in the 2018 season. In addition to the absence of fans, other changes occurred in elite sports due to the pandemic, such as changes in rules and the calendar. Considering that home advantage is affected by multiple interacting factors, it is important to investigate specific sports leagues across the world to determine which factors had the greatest impact on the advantage of playing home matches.

Esporte transmídia: o Cartola e as novas práticas do torcer no Campeonato Brasileiro de Futebol

Abstract This article aims to study how transmedia storytelling reflects how Brazilian supporters engage with Brazilian Soccer League – Brasileirão – through the game Cartola. This game consists of a fictitious competition in which users must create and line up teams based on real soccer players to challenge other users. For this reason, the concept of transmedia storytelling is a key base in this work. Transmedia represents a process in which content elements get spread across multiple platforms in a coordinated manner. As a corpus of analysis, we collected content broadcasted on TV during the rounds of October 2019, in addition to social networks, specifically Twitter, Cartola’s official website and app. We noticed that the game contributes to increasing the fans’ engagement with the national championship and changes the current logic in the ways of supporting and in the communicational and social interactions related to football.

Economic and sporting performance and players' registration rights in Italian soccer: connections

This study focuses on the possible links between the main revenues obtained from the financial statements of soccer clubs, players' registration rights (PRRs), and sports success. The topic is developed by processing much data from the Italian Premier League Soccer Championship (year 2017/2018) and a sample of 100 financial statements of Italian Serie A clubs for the period between 2013/2014 and 2017/2018. The data were analysed by the models of 'linear regression' and 'fixed effects for panel data' for more consecutive years. The study showed that there is a virtuous circle between the main revenues, players' registration rights, and sports success. The main revenues (TV rights, sponsors, and advertising) increase the PRRs and the possible capital gains derived from the termination that are often necessary to achieve the conditions of economic and financial balance required to register for soccer leagues. Investing in players' registration rights also leads to better sports results.