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A Review of Competitive Balance in European Football Leagues before and after Financial Fair Play Regulations

Author

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  • Girish Ramchandani

    (Sport Industry Research Centre and Sheffield Business School, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield S1 1WB, UK)

  • Daniel Plumley

    (Sport Industry Research Centre and Sheffield Business School, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield S1 1WB, UK)

  • Adam Davis

    (Sport Industry Research Centre and Sheffield Business School, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield S1 1WB, UK)

  • Rob Wilson

    (Sport Industry Research Centre and Sheffield Business School, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield S1 1WB, UK)

Abstract

This paper analyses competitive balance in 24 top-division domestic football leagues in Europe before and after the implementation of UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations. Our analysis covers 22 seasons between 2000/01 and 2021/22 and utilises indicators of overall league concentration and dominance. Seven of the 24 leagues examined have seen a statistically significant worsening of league concentration post-FFP, fourteen leagues experienced a decline in the number of top-four finishers and thirteen saw a reduction in the number of unique title winners. The weight of evidence indicates that FFP has adversely affected competitive balance in several European football leagues.

Suggested Citation

  • Girish Ramchandani & Daniel Plumley & Adam Davis & Rob Wilson, 2023. "A Review of Competitive Balance in European Football Leagues before and after Financial Fair Play Regulations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-15, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:5:p:4284-:d:1082755
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    References listed on IDEAS

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