The Sound of Emptiness: European Soccer without Fans

Soccer Culture in Europe

There is something sublime about people coming together, no matter how dissimilar their backgrounds and circumstances, and enjoying the most popular sport in the world: the spectacle that is soccer. In Europe, the beautiful game is deeply ingrained within the culture. In normally normal instances, you can find stadiums buzzing with noise and passion. Spain, England, Germany, Italy, France, take your pick. In typical times, fans join together in a unique atmosphere to cheer on their teams and enjoy the unparalleled game that is soccer. At these events, not only will you discover fans of the same team assembling, but potentially fans of the opposition team with their counterparts. A classic example of this occurred during the 2006 World Cup in Germany, when local fans began chanting a “Football’s Coming Home” chant, to which English fans responded by joining in on the chant (Mohammed). Two nations. Two teams. One shared love: Soccer. Another heartwarming moment that displays the power of soccer took place in 2019 at the Benito Villamarin in Seville, Spain, when FC Barcelona visited Real Betis. That evening, soccer icon Lionel Messi capped off yet another brilliant performance and hattrick with a divine chip shot over the goalie, off the bottom of the cross-bar, and into the net. It was a finish that very few would try, or even think to try, let alone achieve. A masterpiece so aesthetically-pleasing, it could be placed in the Louvre. What the Betis fans did in this moment, despite the goal putting their home side down 4-1, was a touching moment that you may not find in many other realms outside of soccer. They stood up and applauded the Argentine genius in an ovation that Messi himself did not take lightly: “I'm really grateful for the way the fans responded. I honestly don't remember an ovation like that [from rival fans]” (Mardsen). This type of incredible scene is what this game can produce. It does not matter how different individuals are from each other, or sometimes even what team they support, because what they do have in common is a mutual respect and love for the game itself. In Europe, a 2016 study discovered that about 63 percent of people who label themselves soccer fans “had chatted about [soccer] with someone from another European country” in the previous twelve months (“Soccer as a key factor in shaping a unified European identity”). Additionally, the study suggests that 70 percent of fans “watch matches and summaries from leagues outside of their country of origin” (“Soccer as a key factor in shaping a unified European identity”). Thus, it is evident that soccer is an extremely unifying aspect of life in Europe and is undoubtedly an integral part of the culture. Unfortunately, in March 2020 it began to become more and more clear that the game was changing due to the Covid-19 global pandemic. Leagues had to make adjustments and so they did. Players and teams have still been taking the field, albeit with empty stadiums. It was certainly the right thing to do given the circumstances, but unquestionably, the beautiful game has lost a wonderful aspect of it, but only temporarily.

Fake Crowd Noises, Cardboard Cutouts, and Other “Replacements”

Something that many of these clubs, leagues, and television networks deserve some respect for is the creative ways in which they are trying to ‘replace’ the lack of fans. This includes fake crowd noises, so that while watching on TV it doesn’t feel all that strange as it would with pure silence (apart from the announcers). Moreover, some clubs have incorporated Zoom screens within the stadiums, or the less technologically-advanced setup of cardboard cutouts of fans. One Danish club, Midtyjlland, set up a “drive-in movie theater experience outside its stadium, where about 2,000 cars can be as physically close to the action as possible without being inside the stadium” (Creditor). Now, that sounds pretty cool actually! But, I mean, does this not feel utterly weird to you? Like we’re living in some kind of alternate dimension? Seriously, it feels like we went on an alternate time-tangent, like in Back to the Future Part II. Life is so drastically different than it once was, and the soccer world is just one of many strikingly apparent examples. Innovation and ingenuity is surfacing in an uncanny manner to try to somewhat emulate the atmosphere of full stadiums. The problem? It’s impossible.

You Can’t Compensate for the Non-compensable

The reality is that there are certain aspects of the game that simply cannot be replicated without real-life fans. These include the little parts of the game that fans get so excited about. For example, the home team’s star player makes a darting run and dribbles past three players with exquisite skill and speed. Many times, fans would stand up and marvel, producing oohs and aahs that echo across the stadium. Or, maybe a player is in shooting position and the crowd rises in anticipation. Perhaps, a wizardous nutmeg and droves of fans gasp in unison. The musical chants are another fascinating part of games, with drums beating and the rhythm continuing with each passing moment and touch that maintains possession for the hometeam. Maybe it’s near the end of the full 90 minutes and the home team is leading, and with each pass and ball control, a loud “olé” reverberates from the stands. These types of enchanting moments are absent from empty-stadium soccer games. The unprecedented times in which we find ourselves should make fans appreciate even more the little parts of the game. The sport is not all about goals and assists. There are so many wonderful aspects of the game that do not show up in the statsheet. The atmosphere of stadiums across Europe recognize and display that, and it helps create a magical feel to a stadium. Card-board cutouts or fake-crowd noise, or anything but the actual fans being in the stands, cannot encapsulate that marvelous atmosphere.

The Impact of Empty Stadiums on Players

The current circumstances are undoubtedly challenging for players as well. On this subject, Maddie Sofia, host of the NPR podcast titled “Short Wave,” conducted a fascinating interview with Catherine Sabiston, the Canada Research Chair in Physical Activity and Mental Health at the University of Toronto. Much of the discussion centered around how empty stadiums affect the players. Sabiston rightfully suggests the following: “We know that athletes who are more anxious may perform worse in front of crowds. But then we also know athletes who may really thrive on that noise and perform at their best” (“How The Lack of Fans Is Changing the Psychology of Sports”). Furthermore, Sabiston elicits the notion that performing in front of a crowd can generate “a sense of real expectation for success and motivation and confidence and positive emotions” (“How The Lack of Fans Is Changing the Psychology of Sports”). This is a crucial point. Sometimes fans lift up their teams and individual players within a game and they provide that extra boost of energy and motivation. Consequently, in the absence of fans, players have to find that extra energy and motivation within themselves. Now, one might postulate that players should be just as motivated even without fans. That is a sensible argument, however the noise and atmosphere that fans bring can illuminate and emphasize the importance of some of these games. There seems to be a subconscious psychological aspect in which the fans and full, roaring stadiums, accentuate the need to win and succeed. As Sabiston contends, “because athletes have... their own individual zones that they perform at their best in, an athlete who really, really needs that crowd noise and that experience of that energy to perform may certainly have less energy and less drive to be able to play at their best” (“How The Lack of Fans Is Changing the Psychology of Sports”). However, at the same time, it is plausible to believe that some players feel less pressure than they normally would. They still give plenty of effort and try their best, but they may not feel as nervous. It must be noted that not all fans positively influence their teams and players. In fact, there are plenty of annoying, rude, and flat-out disrespectful fans out there. I’m talking about people who I cannot even understand why they go to games. For example, maybe a player gives the ball away cheaply and some fans who claim to support that club boo their own player. Some of people’s unrealistic expectations and ill-mannered and inconsiderate behavior can possibly have a negative effect on a player. But come on, what is the point of going to the game if you are just going to spread negativity? It is supposed to be a form of entertainment, and you are supposed to support those who you claim to support. I mean, right? Anyways, the fact that this negative portion of the game is gone is one positive to take away from a player’s perspective. Yet, again, many fans are very supportive and uplifting, and players are currently missing that positive influence. Another captivating piece of what Sabiston talks about is the player-to-player experience on the field. She provides the following example: “You can hear each other's breathing. And just the noises that are normally muffled by the crowd noise are now right there on the playing surface. And so some level of crowd noise might be valuable just for background noise” (“How The Lack of Fans Is Changing the Psychology of Sports”). Essentially, by again digging into the sports psychology view of empty stadiums, Sabiston highlights just how different the feeling is on the field for the players. They can hear their opponents and teammates more clearly than they usually would. This doesn’t seem to be a negative or positive thing, but it messes with the normalcy within an athlete’s mind. So many things are different than what they are used to. Brazilian forward Richarlison, who plays for the English side Everton, told ESPN Brasil that he and his peers are “used to having fans shouting, asking for pictures, singing our songs” (Olley). He would go on to say that things are sort of “weird” but that he and other players “have to get used to it” (Olley). Surely, it is not only unideal for the fans who cannot attend games, but for the players it can be and has been quite challenging.

New Routines for Players

Having a routine is such a crucial part of being an athlete. That includes what you eat, how and when you exercise, how you prepare for games, etc. Due to the coronavirus, which has negatively affected so many people across the world, players and clubs have had to drastically change their matchday preparations. Brazilian Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson acknowledged that keeping fans out of stadiums is the right course of action due to the ongoing detriment caused by Covid-19; he would further explain to ESPN Brasil, that he “found the feeling of playing without fans and playing the way [they] played very different [from the usual] with all the precautions [they] took before the match, too" (Olley). These precautions that Ederson spoke of includes frequent temperature checks, disinfected soccer balls, and sanitized goal frames (Olley). There have been multiple players who have been diagnosed with the virus and thus have had to quarantine for two weeks and then get back up to match-level fitness once they are deemed Covid-free. These alterations in athletes’ daily routines is just another example of how the game has drastically changed. I’ll ask again… Where are we? What dimension are we in? The new normal is so abnormal. But again, as Ederson stated, these precautions are absolutely necessary given the circumstances and the ongoing tragedy of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Home-field Advantage

Like in most sports, homefield advantage can certainly play a significant role in the outcome of a soccer game. With empty stadiums, it does appear as though home-field advantage can be thrown out the window, or at least diminishes in relevance to a substantial extent. What is still the same as it always has been is that teams have to travel to their opponents’ stadiums for an away game. If the stadium is far away or if the game is too early in the day, the team may have to stay at a hotel overnight, rather than at their homes with their families, which is what would take place for an upcoming match. Even so, being in a rival’s stadium without their fans is a totally different atmosphere. You don’t have opposing fans yelling at you, and those fans aren’t there to lift up and inspire their players. As a result, it is clear that that positively impacts the visiting team. An additional layer to the home-field advantage idea is the referee. Sabiston postulates this: “Referees tend to be the ones that are most affected by the crowd in terms of, you know, what we call a home-field advantage. And so it's suggested that the referees are... really acting on the level of the crowd noise and the extent to which the crowd is, you know, sort of supportive or not of the plays and of what's going on on the field” (“How The Lack of Fans Is Changing the Psychology of Sports”). To support this notion, she discusses a published study based on 2007 in Italy, when fans were temporarily banned from Serie A matches: “Pettersson-Lidbom and Priks have talked about the idea that not having the fans in the stands really did have an influence on the referee. It reduced the bias that the referees had by not having the fans in the stands” (“How The Lack of Fans Is Changing the Psychology of Sports”). This is an interesting concept. Seemingly, some referees would be affected more than others and some may not be affected at all, however. But, certainly, soccer matches usually contain some fans who yell at the referee and try to pressure him into making decisions that he otherwise wouldn’t make. Video Assistant Refereeing (VAR) can definitely be helpful nowadays, however. The main reviews that take place are for penalty kicks. So even if fans persuade a referee to make a call, it can still be altered after review. Having said that, fans could potentially influence the ref psychologically to stick with a call or to change a call. As a whole, it can be stated that a lack of fans has an impact on the referee and the calls he makes, but it can be difficult to grasp exactly which calls may have been different had fans been present. This is because much of it is psychological and there is a substantial difference in pressure and influence when stadiums are fan-filled versus when they are empty. As a whole, though, due to the effects of unusual empty stadiums on the players, referees, the atmosphere as a whole, and the outcomes of games, home-field advantage definitely diminishes in relevance.

Just Imagine

Unquestionably, many moments at soccer matches appear even more special with fan presence. Just imagine if fans were in the stadiums when Messi paid tribute to the late great Diego Maradona by taking off his shirt after scoring and pointing to the skies while sporting his Argentinian compatriot’s legendary Newell’s Old Boys jersey. What would the feeling and reaction have been like inside a full Barca stadium? Perhaps a tearful, echoing applause that would have made an already memorable moment even more touching. There are plenty of moments in soccer, including ones far less saddening than what occurred on that day, that are so remarkable. Imagine being in a stadium when your team comes up with a colossal win. The crowd would be going absolutely crazy, music blaring, the fans jumping and cheering in unison. There is something truly special about that. Fans bring such emotion and passion to games, helping to create an utterly extraordinary atmosphere.

It Will Be Back

Unfortunately, coronavirus is still presenting a major issue in many countries throughout Europe. Sadly, many people have died and cases are still not under control. As of November 29, the death toll is about 45 thousand in Spain, near 58 thousand in the United Kingdom, over 16 thousand in Germany, almost 55 thousand in Italy, and over 52 thousand in France (“Covid World Map”). This virus is a tragedy and to have lost so many lives across the world is heartbreaking. Yet, on a more positive note, there have been signs pointing towards a coronavirus vaccine and hopefully getting the pandemic under control. Still, as of now, it remains an immense issue. Soccer games across Europe will continue to take place without crowds. Some leagues will begin to integrate fans at limited capacity, but for the most part, for now, stadiums will remain fanless. But do not worry! Life as we once knew it and soccer as we once knew it will soon inch back to normalcy and we will be back in our regular dimension. Right? I mean, I think? Hopefully? Yeah. Things will get better. And in the soccer world, what an exceptional day it will be when stadiums are full again. Just think about how electric it will be. Pure exuberance and euphoria will surely run through the fans, players, and coaches, and pour out onto the pitch. Soccer has always been something that brings people together and after these unprecedented times, it will do it again, and likely to an even more extreme extent. As previously described, the culture of soccer in Europe is incredible and there are so many passionate fans. People from different towns, different cities, different countries, different backgrounds convene with their fellow supporters to cheer on and enjoy the spectacle that is soccer. For now, at least many have televisions, computers, and phones to be able to enjoy the game. But for many individuals, it is not the same. Even when watching on TV, it is not the same, just knowing in the back of your head that these stadiums are barren. With groundbreaking scientific advancements, and individuals doing their part by wearing masks and socially distancing themselves until this pandemic is under control, the universe will gravitate towards a sense of normalcy again. The beautiful game will soon be back to what it was. A significant piece is missing for many. It is different for many. Not just the fans, but the players, coaches, referees, and clubs. That missing piece will soon be put back into the puzzle. Let’s look forward to that euphoric day when things are under control and safe and fans can return in full flocks to the stadiums. Stadiums across Europe will be lit up again and that magical atmosphere will be felt again. Until then, players and teams will continue to do their best to perform amidst the strange circumstances; and us fans should continue to enjoy the beautiful game on our screens and know that eventually, when the time is right, it will be back, all of it.

Works Cited

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