As a data analyst who’s spent years modeling football odds, I’ve seen how tiny inefficiencies—like a 10-minute walk back to the pitch—can skew outcomes. When Diego Simeone complained about the dressing room distance at the Club World Cup, it wasn’t just a grip. It was a statistical red flag. Let’s break down why this isn’t just about logistics—it’s about match flow, player fatigue, and how bookmakers miss these variables. Spoiler: your betting model might be underestimating the power of proximity.