From Colonial Empires to Umpires: An Investigation into the Role of Colonial Legacy in Attitudes Towards Subordinates

Abstract This study examines the impact that historical colonial legacies have on supraordinate behavior towards subordinates with whom a colonial past is shared. Analyzing data from the FIFA World Cup, we investigate the referee bias exhibited towards teams from formerly colonized countries and teams from countries that were formerly colonizers. Our findings reveal that referees from countries with colonial histories tend to take a stricter approach with players from their nation’s former colonies. This intriguing effect is not reciprocated, as referees from former colonized countries do not exhibit a similar bias towards their former colonizers. This result does not h old for shorter periods of colonization, nor is it explained by a common language. These results highlight the complex interplay between historical colonial dynamics and contemporary interactions and shed light on the lasting influence of colonial legacies. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of postcolonial attitudes and emphasizes the need for awareness, training, and dialogue to ensure fair treatment in sports and beyond.