The Economics of Sport
  • Sports Economics
  • About
  • Workshop
  • Selected Publications
  • Book Reviews
  • A Primer on Gaelic Games
  • Upcoming Events
  • Media
  • Education
  • Resources & Links
  • Data

A Winners Medal For Losing?

20/2/2023

 
By Robbie Butler

Recently Liam Lenten and Graham Kendall published "Scholarly sports: Influence of social science academe on sports rules and policy" in the Journal of the Operational Research Society. The duo had previously collaborated in 2017 in the European Journal of Operational Research with "When sports rules go awry". The latter paper provides a really nice overview of rule changes, made across a wide variety of sports, that resulted in unintended consequences. 

Something related to this is at play in English football. Next weekend sees the first domestic silverware presented - the Carabao Cup Final. Manchester United will go head-to-head with Newcastle United. While the Red Devils are experiencing a trophy drought by their standards (the last success was the Europa League under Jose Mourinho back in 2017), Newcastle have not won a major trophy since 1995.

The interesting dynamic this weekend, centres on Newcastle United goalkeeper Martin Dúbravka. The Slovakian international was first choice goalkeeper at Newcastle from 2018 to 2022. At the start of the 2022/23 season he lost his place to Nick Pope. Rather than sit on the bench for Newcastle, Dúbravka decided to go out on loan. He destination - none other than Manchester United. 

His move had the same result. The subs bench. But this time for Man United. However, he did make two appearances for United, both in the Carabao Cup.

League rules stipulate that players cannot represent more than one club in the competition. When Dúbravka returned to Newcastle in January, following the end of his loan agreement with United, he was aware he could not represent Newcastle in the competition. Little did he know the clubs would meet in the final.

At full-time on Sunday, the winners (whoever that will be) will receive 30 medals. 19 are for players and 11 for staff. Dúbravka who will be part of the Newcastle group (he cannot be named in the squad) is eligible for a winners medal...but only if Manchester United win. So his medal haul can be added to, but only if his current club lose.

The man himself has made the situation clear however. He said yesterday "I played two games for Manchester United, so I knew that I can't play in the final...It’s a very strange situation for me...It will be very difficult to watch this game. I’ve been asked about it a lot, but of course I want Newcastle to win because I’ve spent so many years here and I’m very grateful for the chance the club gave me in English football".

Comments are closed.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013

    About

    This website was founded in July 2013.

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    American Football
    Athletics
    Baseball
    Basketball
    Behavioural Economics
    Boxing
    Broadcasting
    Competitive Balance
    Cricket
    Cycling
    Darts
    David Butler
    Declan Jordan
    Drugs
    Ed Valentine
    Epl
    Esports
    Expenditure
    F1
    Fifa World Cup
    Finances
    Funding
    Gaa
    Gaelic Games
    Gambling
    Game Theory
    Gary Burns
    Geography
    Golf
    Greyhound Racing
    Guest Posts
    Horse Racing
    Impact Studies
    John Considine
    John Eakins
    League Of Ireland
    Location
    Media
    Mls
    Mma
    Olympics
    Participation
    Paul O'Sullivan
    Premier League
    Regulation
    Research
    Robbie Butler
    Rugby
    Simpsonomics
    Snooker
    Soccer
    Spatial Analysis
    Sporting Bodies
    Stephen Brosnan
    Swimming
    Taxation
    Teaching
    Technology
    Tennis
    Transfers
    Uefa
    Ufc
    World Cup
    Wwe

Related

The website is not formally affiliated to any institution and all of the entries represent the personal views and opinions of an individual contributor. The website operates on a not-for-profit basis. For this reason we decline all advertisement opportunities. 

Contact

To contact us email sportseconomics2013@gmail.com or find us on Twitter @SportEcon.