ISL 2024 Current Affairs |Indian Super League 2024| Sports Current affairs 2024

Indian Super League (ISL) Overview

Establishment

The Indian Super League (ISL) was established in 2013 with the aim of revolutionizing football in India. The ISL was founded through a collaboration between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and IMG-Reliance, a joint venture between IMG Worldwide and Reliance Industries. The league was established to elevate the standard of football in India, attract investment, and popularize the sport across the country.

Star India holds a prominent role as a broadcasting partner of the Indian Super League (ISL), securing the rights to broadcast ISL matches across television and digital platforms. This agreement came into effect starting from the 2017-2018 season.

The inaugural season of the ISL took place in 2014. It featured eight franchise-based teams representing various cities across India. The teams were a mix of Indian and international players, with marquee signings including prominent retired footballers such as Alessandro Del Piero, Robert Pires, and David Trezeguet.

The ISL has attracted high-profile players and coaches from around the world, adding star power to the league and raising its profile internationally. Players like Sunil Chhetri, Ferran Corominas, and Bartholomew Ogbeche have left a lasting impact on the league with their performances.

Apart from its emphasis on professional-level competition, the ISL has also implemented several programs for development of young talent and advancing grassroots football in India. Affiliated with ISL clubs, youth academies offer aspiring footballers professional training and opportunities to progress in the sport.

Governance

All India Football Federation (AIFF)

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is the governing body for football in India. The AIFF was founded in 1937 and is one of the oldest football associations in Asia. The AIFF has undertaken several initiatives to promote and develop football in India, including the launch of various domestic leagues such as the I-League and Indian Super League (ISL), grassroots development programs, and efforts to improve infrastructure and facilities for football across the country.

Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL)

Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) manages and operates the Indian Super League (ISL). Formed in 2013 as a joint venture between IMG-Reliance and the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the governing body for football in India, FSDL plays a vital role in organizing and promoting the ISL. It oversees various league operations, such as match scheduling, marketing, broadcasting rights, sponsorship deals, and overall league management. FSDL has introduced several innovations to the ISL, including marquee players, a player draft system, and initiatives for grassroots football development.

Format

The ISL follows a structured competition format, which includes a regular season and a playoff phase.

Regular Season– During Regular Season, each team plays every other team twice—once at home and once away. This ensures that each team plays an equal number of home and away games this is called Round –Robin Format. The teams score points based on their performance in each match Win-3 points, Draw-1 point, Loss-0 point. If there is a tie in points, the criterias: Goal difference, Goals scored, Head-to-head results are used to break the tie.

Playoff format– It determines the champion at the end of season. This includes

• Qualification– At the end of the regular season, the playoffs feature the four teams that finished at the top of the standings.
• The semi-finals are played over two legs (home and away). The winner is determined by the aggregate score over the two legs. If the aggregate score is tied, the team with more away goals advances. If still tied, extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shootout determine the winner.
• Final: The winners of the semi-finals meet in a single-match final at a predetermined venue. The winner of the final match is crowned the ISL champion for the season.

Promoted clubs (from I-League to ISL)

Punjab FC (2023–24)