17 Nov Do Black Players Really Run More? A Scientific Examination of a Long-Standing Football Myth
Last Thursday, during a guest lecture I gave at Stanford University’s “Science of MythBusters” course, we explored how scientific reasoning helps test long-standing beliefs by confronting them with rigorous data rather than intuition.
A newly published study provides a clear example of this approach applied to football.
The research, led by Prof. Carlos Lago-Peñas from the University of Vigo, was carried out in collaboration with researchers from the Polytechnic University of Madrid and the Beijing Sport University, and has just been published in Intelligent Sports and Health (Elsevier/KeAi).
What the Study Examines
A widespread belief in football —especially in scouting and informal analysis— is the idea that:
“Black players run more, or run faster, than White players.”
Despite how frequently this assumption is repeated, it had rarely been tested with large-scale positional tracking data under controlled conditions.
This study analysed 4,011 match observations from the 2018/19 LaLiga season using Mediacoach/Tracab data, accounting for fundamental determinants of physical performance:
- playing position
- age
- tactical responsibilities
- match context
What the Data Reveal
The findings present a non-uniform, context-dependent picture:
- Differences between Black and White players appeared only in certain positions (full-backs, central midfielders, external midfielders).
- In other positions (central defenders, forwards), no differences were found.
- Where differences did emerge, their direction and magnitude were not consistent, depending on role and context.
- Once positional demands and age were incorporated, effect sizes became generally small.
These results do not support biological or deterministic interpretations.
Instead, they reinforce a well-established principle in performance science:
Running output in football depends far more on position, role, tactical context and experience than on any demographic label.
Crucially, the popular belief that Black players “run more” does not hold when examined scientifically.
A Broader Scientific Context
This publication forms part of a wider body of research examining complex questions in elite football with rigorous methodology.
A clear example is the award-winning study on the ACTN3 “speed gene”, published in Genes (doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15030386).
That research found that players with the XX genotype tend to cover less high-intensity distance and show a higher incidence of muscle injury —while emphasising that genetics does not determine a player’s ability to reach elite level.
Across these investigations, a consistent conclusion emerges:
No single factor defines a footballer.
Performance results from the interaction of physical, technical, tactical, psychological and contextual dimensions.
Why These Findings Matter
Putting long-standing assumptions to the test helps refine how performance is understood and discussed.
It encourages a more nuanced, evidence-based view of the game and avoids misconceptions that may influence scouting, decision-making or public discourse.
Full Access to the Study
The article is available through ScienceDirect:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S3050544525000441