The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted the world of sports, forcing many events to be postponed or cancelled. One of the most affected leagues is the English Premier League, which had to suspend its season for three months before resuming in June. However, to ensure the safety of everyone involved, the games had to be played behind closed doors, meaning no fans were allowed in the stadiums.

This posed a challenge for both the players and the viewers, who were used to the vibrant atmosphere and excitement of live football. How could they recreate the feeling of being part of a match without the presence of spectators? How could they enjoy watching a game without hearing the cheers and chants of their favourite teams?

The answer came from an unlikely source: EA Sports FIFA 20. The popular football video game teamed up with Sky Sports, the main broadcaster of Premier League games in the UK, to provide simulated crowd noises for the matches. Using a system called “atmospheric audio”, Sky Sports was able to enhance the viewing experience by adding realistic sounds from FIFA 20 that matched the teams, stadiums, and situations on the pitch.

In this article, we will explore how Sky Sports uses FIFA 20 stadium noise for Premier League games, what are the benefits and challenges of playing behind closed doors games, and what are the features and gameplay of FIFA 20.

Sky Sports announced its partnership with EA Sports FIFA in June, ahead of the restart of the Premier League season. The broadcaster said it wanted to give viewers “the best possible viewing experience” and “bring fans together” even if they could not watch in person.

To achieve this goal, Sky Sports used a system called “atmospheric audio”, which was developed by EA Sports FIFA in collaboration with Sky engineers. The system consists of a library of over 1,300 sound clips from FIFA 20 that cover various scenarios and events that can happen during a match. These include goals, fouls, corners, penalties, VAR decisions, celebrations, boos, whistles, chants, songs, and more.

The sound clips are tailored to each team and stadium, so that viewers can hear authentic noises that reflect their preferences and rivalries. For example, Liverpool fans can hear “You’ll Never Walk Alone” at Anfield, Manchester United fans can hear “Glory Glory Man United” at Old Trafford, and Arsenal fans can hear “One-Nil to the Arsenal” at Emirates Stadium.

The sound clips are also triggered by what happens on the pitch in real time. For example, if a player scores a goal or misses a chance, the system will play an appropriate reaction from the crowd. The system also adapts to the intensity and momentum of the game, increasing or decreasing the volume and frequency of the sounds accordingly.

The system is controlled by a sound engineer who monitors the game and selects the best sounds for each moment. The sound engineer can also adjust the balance and mix of the sounds to suit the preferences of the viewers. The viewers can also choose to turn off the sounds if they prefer to watch the game without them.

The atmospheric audio system has been praised by many viewers and critics as a creative and innovative way to enhance the viewing experience of Premier League games. Some have even said that the sounds make the games more enjoyable and exciting than watching them live. Others have appreciated the variety and quality of the sounds, which make them feel closer to their teams and fans.

Playing behind closed doors games is not a new phenomenon in football. It has been used before as a punishment for teams or fans who have violated rules or regulations, such as racism, violence, or corruption. However, playing behind closed doors games due to a global pandemic is unprecedented and poses unique benefits and challenges for both the players and the viewers.

One of the benefits of playing behind closed doors games is that it ensures the safety and health of everyone involved. By avoiding large gatherings of people, the risk of spreading or contracting the coronavirus is reduced. This also allows the players and staff to follow the necessary protocols and guidelines, such as testing, isolation, and social distancing.

Another benefit of playing behind closed doors games is that it eliminates some of the external factors that can affect the performance of the players, such as crowd pressure, bias, or intimidation. Some players may find it easier to focus and play without the distraction or influence of thousands of fans. Some players may also find it fairer to play without the advantage or disadvantage of home or away support.

However, playing behind closed doors games also has some disadvantages. One of them is that it reduces the atmosphere and excitement of live football. Many players and fans agree that football is nothing without fans, who create the passion, emotion, and energy that make the game special. Playing without fans can make the game feel dull, boring, or artificial.

Another disadvantage of playing behind closed doors games is that it affects the motivation and feedback of the players. Many players rely on the cheers and chants of their fans to boost their confidence, morale, and performance. Playing without fans can make them feel isolated, depressed, or unmotivated. Some players may also miss the constructive criticism or praise from their fans, which can help them improve or correct their mistakes.

There is some evidence that playing behind closed doors games can have a significant impact on the outcome and quality of football matches. According to a study by FiveThirtyEight, playing without fans has resulted in fewer goals, fewer home wins, fewer fouls, fewer yellow cards, and more penalties in European leagues. According to another study by Sky Sports, playing without fans has also affected the style and tempo of play in the Premier League, with more passes, more possession, more shots, more dribbles, and more tackles.

FIFA 20 is one of the most popular and successful football video games in history. It was released by EA Sports in September 2019 for various platforms, such as PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, and Google Stadia. It has sold over 25 million copies worldwide and has won several awards and nominations.

FIFA 20 offers a realistic and immersive simulation of football, with authentic game flow, decisive moments, and ball physics. It features over 30 official leagues, 700 clubs, 17,000 players, and 90 stadiums from around the world. It also includes various modes, such as Career Mode, Ultimate Team Mode, Volta Football Mode, and Champions League Mode. It also introduces a new mode called FIFA Street Mode, which allows players to play street football in various locations and formats.

FIFA 20 has received positive reviews from critics and players, who praised its graphics, gameplay, and content. Some of the new and improved aspects of FIFA 20 are:

• Authentic game flow: FIFA 20 aims to capture the true essence of football, with dynamic and realistic movements, actions, and reactions. It also incorporates the concept of “football intelligence”, which enhances the awareness, decision-making, and skills of the players and the teams.
• Decisive moments: FIFA 20 gives more control and influence to the players in the key moments of the game, such as shooting, passing, dribbling, and defending. It also adds new mechanics and features, such as composed finishing, controlled tackling, strafe dribbling, and manual goalkeeper movement.
• Ball physics: FIFA 20 improves the physics and behaviour of the ball, making it more responsive and realistic. It also adds new factors and variables, such as spin, bounce, swerve, and air resistance.

FIFA 20 is not only a fun and entertaining game to play, but also a useful and educational tool to learn and improve one’s knowledge and skills in football. It can help players to understand the rules, tactics, strategies, and techniques of the game. It can also help players to develop their creativity, coordination, concentration, and communication.

In conclusion, EA Sports FIFA 20 and Sky Sports have united to create stadium noise for behind closed doors Premier League games. This is a creative and innovative way to enhance the viewing experience of football fans who cannot watch the games live due to the coronavirus pandemic. It also helps to recreate the atmosphere and excitement of live football by adding realistic sounds from FIFA 20 that match the teams, stadiums, and situations on the pitch.

Playing behind closed doors games has both benefits and challenges for both the players and the viewers. It ensures the safety and health of everyone involved, but it also reduces the atmosphere and excitement of live football. It eliminates some of the external factors that can affect the performance of the players, but it also affects their motivation and feedback. Playing without fans can have a significant impact on the outcome and quality of football matches.

FIFA 20 is one of the most popular and successful football video games in history. It offers a realistic and immersive simulation of football, with authentic game flow, decisive moments, and ball physics. It features over 30 official leagues, 700 clubs, 17,000 players, and 90 stadiums from around the world. It also includes various modes, such as Career Mode, Ultimate Team Mode, Volta Football Mode, and Champions League Mode. It also introduces a new mode called FIFA Street Mode, which allows players to play street football in various locations and formats.

FIFA 20 is not only a fun and entertaining game to play, but also a useful and educational tool to learn and improve one’s knowledge and skills in football. It can help players to understand the rules, tactics, strategies, and techniques of the game. It can also help players to develop their creativity, coordination, concentration, and communication.

Here are some frequently asked questions about EA Sports FIFA 20 and Sky Sports stadium noise for Premier League games: