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Journals / Yenilikçi Mühendislik ve Doğa Bilimleri / 2026 / Volume: 6 Issue: 2

In-game disciplinary behavior analysis of football matches using clustering technique: a cross-sectional investigation

Fatih Öztunç(GAZİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, UYGULAMALI BİLİMLER FAKÜLTESİ, YÖNETİM BİLİŞİM SİSTEMLERİ BÖLÜMÜ)0009-0007-9497-6272
Serhat Peker(IZMIR BAKIRCAY UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF ECONOMICS AND ADMINISTRATIVE SCIENCES, DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS)0000-0002-6876-3982
Pages
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Publication Date
2026-07-30
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Results indicate that team prominence and match significance are key drivers of disciplinary patterns, with referee experience aligned to high demand matches.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:This study analyzes in-game disciplinary behavior in football matches using a clustering approach, based on 2,212 matches from the Turkish Süper Lig and Spanish La Liga across the 2021–2024 seasons.
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Key Findings & Data:Eight features including referee experience, home prominence, away prominence, match significance, competition level, match quality, home aggression, and away aggression were used to capture the match dynamics.
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Conclusion & Impact:Results indicate that team prominence and match significance are key drivers of disciplinary patterns, with referee experience aligned to high demand matches.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:2021–2024 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Sports Analytics · Football Analytics · Data Analytics

Abstract

This study analyzes in-game disciplinary behavior in football matches using a clustering approach, based on 2,212 matches from the Turkish Süper Lig and Spanish La Liga across the 2021–2024 seasons. Eight features including referee experience, home prominence, away prominence, match significance, competition level, match quality, home aggression, and away aggression were used to capture the match dynamics. Hierarchical clustering revealed four distinct match types: prominent home team matches, prominent away team matches, non-prominent team encounters, and high stakes matches with partially prominent teams. Results indicate that team prominence and match significance are key drivers of disciplinary patterns, with referee experience aligned to high demand matches. Differential home and away aggression patterns highlight contextual influences such as home advantage and match pressure. The study contributes theoretically by framing disciplinary behavior as a multidimensional phenomenon and practically by informing referee assignments, match preparation, and aggression management strategies in professional football.

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Cite This Article

Öztunç, F., Peker, S. (2026). In-game disciplinary behavior analysis of football matches using clustering technique: a cross-sectional investigation. Yenilikçi Mühendislik ve Doğa Bilimleri, Volume: 6 Issue: 2. https://doi.org/10.61112/jiens.1791196

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