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Fragments of the beautiful game: a document theory approach to the datafication of football in live score applications

Van Aalst, Joris LU (2026) ABMM54 20261
Division of ALM, Digital Cultures and Publishing Studies
Abstract
In this thesis, I examine the datafication of football through the lens of document theory. From this perspective, I view data as necessarily material, social and cognitive. The aim of the thesis is to (1) increase the understanding of how the intensified quantification of sport shapes fans’ interaction with it and (2) to bridge a gap between document theory, as a part of library and information studies, and critical data studies. The empirical study builds on an app walkthrough of two live score applications: FotMob and Sofascore. My findings suggest that the apps reflect modern sport’s complex relationship with data, quantification and rationality. Football data are promoted as either useful for understanding past games, predict future... (More)
In this thesis, I examine the datafication of football through the lens of document theory. From this perspective, I view data as necessarily material, social and cognitive. The aim of the thesis is to (1) increase the understanding of how the intensified quantification of sport shapes fans’ interaction with it and (2) to bridge a gap between document theory, as a part of library and information studies, and critical data studies. The empirical study builds on an app walkthrough of two live score applications: FotMob and Sofascore. My findings suggest that the apps reflect modern sport’s complex relationship with data, quantification and rationality. Football data are promoted as either useful for understanding past games, predict future games or for the amusement of fans. Primarily, the data turn a game of football into dissectible, quantifiable and repetitive events. Such data are then algorithmically calculated into ratings and metrics aimed at documenting more abstract notions, such as how well a player has performed. As large document complexes, the applications resemble encyclopaedias of football – documenting both each individual action and event taking place on the pitch, as well as the sport as a whole. Yet very little of aesthetic or intangible values is considered or represented in the apps. Like in the knowledge machine, the Mundaneum, envisioned by Paul Otlet, the game of football becomes dissectible into individual facts collected on retrievable index cards. However, while Otlet envisioned a centralised “world palace” of knowledge aimed at synthesising these fragments in one place, the present datafication is fragmented across different platforms. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Van Aalst, Joris LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
Fragment av det vackra spelet: en dokumentteoretisk studie av fotbollens datafiering i livescoreapplikationer
course
ABMM54 20261
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
documentation, datafication, document theory, hyperdocumentation, app studies, library and information studies, fragmentation of information, critical data studies, sportification, sport analytics, live score applications
language
English
id
9231723
date added to LUP
2026-06-18 10:53:50
date last changed
2026-06-18 10:53:50
@misc{9231723,
  abstract     = {{In this thesis, I examine the datafication of football through the lens of document theory. From this perspective, I view data as necessarily material, social and cognitive. The aim of the thesis is to (1) increase the understanding of how the intensified quantification of sport shapes fans’ interaction with it and (2) to bridge a gap between document theory, as a part of library and information studies, and critical data studies. The empirical study builds on an app walkthrough of two live score applications: FotMob and Sofascore. My findings suggest that the apps reflect modern sport’s complex relationship with data, quantification and rationality. Football data are promoted as either useful for understanding past games, predict future games or for the amusement of fans. Primarily, the data turn a game of football into dissectible, quantifiable and repetitive events. Such data are then algorithmically calculated into ratings and metrics aimed at documenting more abstract notions, such as how well a player has performed. As large document complexes, the applications resemble encyclopaedias of football – documenting both each individual action and event taking place on the pitch, as well as the sport as a whole. Yet very little of aesthetic or intangible values is considered or represented in the apps. Like in the knowledge machine, the Mundaneum, envisioned by Paul Otlet, the game of football becomes dissectible into individual facts collected on retrievable index cards. However, while Otlet envisioned a centralised “world palace” of knowledge aimed at synthesising these fragments in one place, the present datafication is fragmented across different platforms.}},
  author       = {{Van Aalst, Joris}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Fragments of the beautiful game: a document theory approach to the datafication of football in live score applications}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}