I think that there are studies, well at least one that I know of,

These were conducted years ago, before professional officials, that showed unconscious bias towards bigger teams...so obviously it wasn't a problem of professionism. I don't want to say that there is a conscious process that favours the big teams but in the current climate where money makes all the decisions...it certainly benefits the TV companies, competition and sponsors when the big clubs progress to the latter stages of any competition

Posted By: Maillot Jaune, Feb 6, 13:25:01