Gender Inequality in European Football: Evidence from Competitive Balance and Competitive Intensity in the UEFA Men’s and Women’s Champions League

Competitiveness of sporting contests is key to attract fan interest. However, limited research compared levels competitiveness in men’s and women’s sports. This study focuses on the evolution intra-match competitive balance (IMCB) intensity (IMCI) UEFA Men’s Women’s Champions League (UMCL UWCL). Data were initially collected for 3299 games over 2001–2019 (2314 UMCL; 985 UWCL) analyse within between each tournament. In addition, 989 matches played UMCL 1955–1973 added compare both competitions their early stages. Results show a deterioration IMCB IMCI 2001–2009 2009–2019 UMCL. Conversely, UWCL benefitted from an increase but not IMCI, except final. The still less than result holds true even when comparing stages competitions, i.e., replacing by has become closer terms time, linked development football. From theoretical perspective, this article advances knowledge appropriate with knockout It underlines role pool players as explanatory factor gap European