Behind closed doors (sport)

The term "behind closed doors" is used in several sports to describe matches played where spectators are not allowed in the stadium or venue to watch.^[1] A match played in this manner is also referred to as a crowdless game. Such games are rare in professional sports, and usually occur due to reasons outside either teams' control. These may include as a punishment or remedy for a participating team, stadium safety problems, preventing potentially dangerous clashes between rival supporters, wider safety concerns, or public health concerns like the COVID-19 pandemic.^[2][3]