Quote:
Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz
There's a lot of talk about how refs manage games and more than one comment about "You can be sure that if x then y"
I'd be interested to see if anyone has actually taken the time to look into whether or not any of the "Game management" theories are true.
The data all exists, has anyone run the numbers?
Is there any evidence that teams who are leading are more likely to get penalized?
How about the number of penalties in close games?
If this was the huge problem people think it is, rather than just confirmation bias about someone's favourite team, it would make a hell of a story for any reporter.
I have no idea if it's true or not, I'm open to the possibility, and I'd really like to see if anyone has actually looked into the underlying numbers.
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It's not that black and white. For example, you can look into the data and I have no doubt you will find that teams who are leading are more likely to get penalized. That doesn't prove game management. Teams that are ahead are more likely to be defending at the end of the game while the other team attacks to try to catch up. You're more likely to take penalties while defending in general, bias or no bias.
I don't think there is much doubt that some level of game management happens, but the extent is uncertain and there is a lot of ground between a make-up call for a mistake made earlier and a deliberate mandate for close games. Number can help give some indication of bias, but they can't prove intent.