Response to comment #2: It happens to a lesser degree somewhat often. The simple fact is there are not all that many second division clubs in countries other than England which have large fan bases (that is to say, averaging above 15,000 while in the second division or lower). And the law of averages says that some clubs that don’t (and in some cases can’t) draw above 10,000 make it into the top flights of countries like Spain, and even more often in countries like the Netherlands and Portugal; while in countries like Greece there are always minnows in the top flight. In 2008, a Belgian club, Tubize, was promoted with an average attendance of less than 1,000 per game. This while clubs like Standard Liège, Brugge, and Anderlecht draw well over 20,000 per game [Tubize survived for a second season and drew 3,995 in 08/09, but are now back in the 2nd tier].
I would have to say that besides England, the two countries where the attendance discrepancy is usually the least between the median and the lowest is England, then Germany, then Italy. [Of course this season, tiny Blackpool skews the English figures.]
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