Soccer’s fabled 12th man makes teams play worse
FOOTBALL grounds packed with thousands of fans cheering on their heroes have long been thought to give players the edge when they are playing at home.
But analysis has called into question the ‘12th man’ effect after it emerged that Premier League sides are winning more games at home since they were forced to restart the season without spectators.
Home teams are performing better than before the pandemic in terms of points gained, wins and goal difference.
The Financial Times said its analysis ‘counters the assumption that teams gain an edge from partisan crowds providing additional motivation to home players and hostile surroundings for opposition sides’. When the Premier League was debating how to resume the season following the postponement of fixtures caused by the pandemic, it was forced to scrap plans to hold matches at neutral venues after club executives insisted on retaining home advantage.
West Ham, who beat Watford 3-1 on Friday, have claimed two home victories since the restart last month. Before that, they had managed only two wins all year in front of fans at the London Stadium.
Sports psychologist Dr Paul McCarthy said too few games had been played since t he l eague restarted on June 17 to draw any firm conclusions, but added: ‘The crowd is just one factor. You’ve got the fact that home players are more familiar with the pitch and the stadia and feel more comfortable.
‘ There is also an evolutionary instinct that they are defending their territory.
‘Studies have shown that players’ testosterone l evels are higher when they play at home rather than away. There is also the fact that the home team has not had to travel as far to play the match.’
In Italy, where fans are also n o t a l l o wed in grounds, the edge from playing at home has remained largely the same since the season restarted.
However, in Germany and Spain, the advantage has shrunk.