Oxford Study Says Altitude A Factor, FIFA Rejoices

I think anyone who has ever laced up any type of shoes for any sport will agree with the fact that altitude has an impact on performance. So while it’s nothing new, an Oxford researcher actually has some cold, hard facts and statistics to back up this assertion, and the facts are pretty telling. A study which must certainly be music to Sepp Blatter’s ears.

The study took into account 4 high-altitude South American teams (Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia) and 4 from low-altitudes (Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile and Peru). I think I speak for everyone when I say it’s a travesty that Suriname, Guyana, French Guinea and Internazionale FC were omitted. They all must feel terribly left out.

Layin’ down the facts:

“Teams that were used to playing at altitude scored more and conceded fewer goals as the height progressively increased. Each additional 1,000 metres (3,250 feet) increased the goal difference by half a goal.”

“McSharry found that in the case of two teams from the same altitude, the probability of the home side winning averages 53 percent. But this rose to an astonishing 82 percent for an altitude difference of 3,695 metres (12,008 feet), such as when Bolivia played sea-level opponent Brazil. But it fell to just 21 percent when the altitude difference was minus 3,695 metres (minus 12,000 feet), i.e. when Brazil played at home to Bolivia.”

All this after FIFA lowered the requirements for games at high altitude to a more acceptable 2,750m (9,022 feet) just last Saturday. They couldn’t have waited a week?

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Category: South America, World Football