Stephen Dobson is Professor of Economics at Nottingham Trent University. John Goddard is Professor of Financial Economics at Bangor Business School, Bangor University.

• List of figures; List of tables; 1. Introduction; 2. The economic theory of professional sports leagues; 3. Competitive balance, uncertainty of outcome and home-field advantage; 4. Forecasting models for football match results; 5. Game theory and football games; 6. English professional football: historical development and commercial structure; 7. Determinants of football players' salaries; 8. Professional footballers: employment patterns and racial discrimination; 9. The football manager; 10. Football referees; 11. Spectator demand for football; 12. Gambling on football; 13. All around the world: club football in France, Germany, Brazil, Japan and China; 14. The economics of the World Cup; References; Index.

'Professors Dobson and Goddard have improved on their already excellent treatment of what the world calls football. Whether it is revenue structure, player salaries or management performance, their combination of sharp economic reasoning and statistical enlightenment cut through complex issues with laser precision. Required reading for those truly interested in the international football scene.' Rodney Fort, Professor of Sport Management, University of Michigan