How many players & officials...........

[Billy the Imp]

..... does it need for a football match?

When I started watching there were 2 teams of 11, a referee and 2 linesmen. Total 25.

Now in addition we have 7 subs per team, a fourth official and in Europe those 2 guys who stand behind the goal. So that’s an additional 17 (68%).

This is without referee assessors etc. Is there any other industry/sport that has increased its numbers by this amount without any increase in its productivity?

 

[plumbob]

Don't forget the newly found VAR people!

 

[Billy the Imp]

Don't forget the newly found VAR people!

So just about doubled in less than sixty years

 

[Merthyr Imp]

And in the old days each team had only a manager and a trainer.

 

[nlondonimp]

there are 36 car parking spaces at the new training ground, and 24 places in the changing room, so that's our maximum squad and backroom staff size