The 2022-23 season of the Indian Super League has been a complete roller coaster so far, and with the final of the season still to be played, we hope for a spectacular climax like we all experienced in the FIFA 2022 World Cup. The shocking turn of events in the league proved all the pre-season projections to be incorrect. We witnessed teams that had fallen behind come back to earn their place in the playoffs. Mumbai City FC, who won the shield and was considered to be the most promising team, lost its edge over the final few games of the league stage and was unable to advance to the finals, shocking the fans. The final few league games decided the top six, who were unsure until then. The games were end-to-end and frequently had close competition. This season saw a lot of goals scored: 341 goals in 116 matches at 2.94 goals per game, so the action on the field was as fascinating as the number suggests.
This season was also special as the fans were welcomed to the stadium after a gap of two years due to construction. As the legendary Jock Stein said, “Football is nothing without fans”, The teams got the support of the 12th man after missing them for two years. ISL is one of the fastest-growing leagues, with 16% increases in attendance when compared to the pre-pandemic season.
The total attendance stands at 14,79,738 (with an average of 12,756 fans per match). The league has doubled its social media engagements as compared to the previous year, and the Hero ISL is now followed by over 9 million fans across all platforms. Additionally, the broadcasters asserted that they outperformed previous years in terms of viewers and viewing duration.
However, we definitely need certain modifications to improve the quality of games in the ISL. We require the implementation of VAR technology so that incorrect decisions can be properly reviewed and overturned. Also, the refereeing should be improved by appointing more skilled individuals, as we have observed certain controversies brought on by poor decisions. There is also a need to establish the relegation rule to boost competition, which is on the cards from next season onwards.
