Indian Super League – League Table Regulations
ISL 2022-23, ISL 2023-24 & ISL 2024-25
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The position of Clubs on the League Table while the League Matches are in progress shall be determined by (in this order):
- Most number of points obtained in all League matches.
- Superior goal difference in all League Matches.
- Most number of goals scored in all League Matches.
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However, the final position of the Clubs on the League Table (when all the Clubs have played all their scheduled League Matches) shall be determined by (in this order):
- Most number of points obtained in all League Matches; If two or more teams are equal on the basis of the above criterion, their place shall be determined as follows:
- Most number of points obtained in the League Matches between the Clubs concerned.
- Superior goal difference resulting from the League Matches between the Clubs concerned.
- Superior goal difference in all the League Matches.
- Most number of goals scored in all the League Matches.
- Highest Fair Play Ranking.
- Drawing of lots by the League.
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The Club that is at the top of the League table at the end of the League stage is deemed as the ISL Winners / the League Winners / the ISL Champions.
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After the completion of all the scheduled League Matches, there will be Play-Off Matches culminating in the Final, to determine the ISL Cup Winners/ISL Play-Off Winners. The top six Clubs basis the League Table on completion of the League Matches stage will qualify for the Play-Off Matches.
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The top two teams at the end of the League stage will automatically qualify for the semi-finals. Teams finishing between 3rd and 6th will feature in a single-leg Knockout to determine the other two semifinalists.
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Knockouts will include:
- To be played between the 4th vs 5th placed team as per the League Standings after the last league stage match at the home stadium of the 4th placed team.
- To be played between 3rd vs 6th placed team as per the League Standings after the last league stage match at the home stadium of the 3rd placed team.
- The decision as to which Match will be classified as Knockout 1 and Knockout 2 shall be as per the discretion of the League.
- If at the end of regulation time of the Knockouts, the two competing teams are level on score, two 15-minute periods of extra time will be played, between them. If the score is still level at the end of extra time, then a penalty shoot-out will be taken to determine the winner of the said Knockout Match.
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Semi-Finals (double leg) will include:
- The winner of the Match between the 4th vs 5th placed team shall play against the 1st placed team (as per the League table).
- The winner of the Match between the 3rd vs 6th placed team shall play against the 2nd placed team (as per the League table).
- The decision as to which Match will be classified as Semi-final 1 and Semi-final 2 shall be as per the discretion of the League.
- If at the end of regulation time of the 2nd leg of the semi-finals, the two competing teams are level on score after taking into account the aggregate result over the two (2) legs (aggregate score of 1st and 2nd leg of the semi-final after the 2nd leg), then at the end of regulation time, two 15-minute periods of extra time will be played between them.
- If the score is still level at the end of extra time, then a penalty shoot-out will be taken to determine the winner of the relevant Match.
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Final (single leg) shall be determined by:
- The victorious team from each of the semi-finals (after the 1st and 2nd legs have been completed) shall compete in the Final.
- If at the end of the regulation time in the Final, the two (2) competing teams are level on score, two 15-minute periods of extra time will be played between them. If the score is still level at the end of extra time, then a penalty shoot-out will be taken to determine the winner of the Final.
ISL 2020-21 & ISL 2021-22
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The position of Clubs on the League Table while the League Matches are in progress shall be determined by (in this order):
- Most number of points obtained in all League matches.
- Superior goal difference in all League Matches.
- Most number of goals scored in all League Matches.
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However, the final position of the Clubs on the League Table (when all the Clubs have played all their scheduled League Matches) shall be determined by (in this order):
- Most number of points obtained in all League Matches; If two or more teams are equal on the basis of the above criterion, their place shall be determined as follows:
- Most number of points obtained in the League Matches between the Clubs concerned.
- superior goal difference resulting from the League Matches between the Clubs concerned.
- Superior goal difference in all the League Matches.
- Most number of goals scored in all the League Matches.
- Highest Fair Play Ranking.
- Drawing of lots by the League.
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The Club that is at the top of the League table at the end of the League stage is deemed as the ISL Winners / the League Winners or the ISL Champions.
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After the completion of all the scheduled League Matches, there will be Play-Off Matches culminating in the Final, to determine the ISL Cup Winners/ISL Play-Off Winners. The top four Clubs basis the League Table on completion of the League Matches stage will qualify for the Play-Off Matches.
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Playoffs (double leg) will include:
- The Play-Off Matches shall comprise of home and away semi-finals with the first placed Team in the League Table playing the fourth placed Team and the second and third placed Teams playing each other.
- The victorious Team from each of the semi-final Play-Off Matches (after the home and away legs have been completed) shall compete in the Final.
- If at the end of regulation time of the 2nd leg of the semi-finals, the two competing teams are level on score after taking into account the aggregate result over the two (2) legs (aggregate score of 1st and 2nd leg of the semi-final after the 2nd leg), then at the end of regulation time, two 15-minute periods of extra time will be played between them.
- If the score is still level at the end of extra time, then a penalty shoot-out will be taken to determine the winner of the relevant Match.
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Final (single leg) shall be determined by:
- The victorious team from each of the semi-finals (after the 1st and 2nd legs have been completed) shall compete in the Final.
- If at the end of the regulation time in the Final, the two (2) competing teams are level on score, two 15-minute periods of extra time will be played between them. If the score is still level at the end of extra time, then a penalty shoot-out will be taken to determine the winner of the Final.
ISL 2019-20
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The position of Clubs on the League Table while the League Matches are in progress shall be determined by (in this order):
- Most number of points obtained in all League matches.
- Superior goal difference in all League Matches.
- Most number of goals scored in all League Matches.
- Most number of away goals scored in all League Matches.
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However, the final position of the Team in the League Table (when all Teams have played all their League Matches) shall be determined by (in this order):
- Most number of points obtained in all League Matches; If two or more Teams are equal on the basis of the above criterion, their place shall be determined as follows:
- Most number of points obtained in the League Matches between the Teams concerned.
- Superior goal difference resulting from the League Matches between the Teams concerned.
- Superior goal difference in all the League Matches.
- Most number of goals scored in all the League Matches.
- Highest Fair Play Ranking.
- Drawing of lots by the League.
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The Club that is at the top of the League table at the end of the League stage is deemed as the ISL Winners / the League Winners or the ISL Champions.
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After the completion of all the scheduled League Matches, there will be Play-Off Matches culminating in the Final, to determine the ISL Cup Winners/ISL Play-Off Winners. The top four Clubs basis the League Table on completion of the League Matches stage will qualify for the Play-Off Matches.
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Playoffs (double leg) will include:
- The Play-Off Matches shall comprise of home and away semi-finals with the first placed Team in the League Table playing the fourth placed Team and the second and third placed Teams playing each other.
- The victorious Team from each of the semi-final Play-Off Matches (after the home and away legs have been completed) shall compete in the Final.
- If at the end of normal time of the second Match of any home and away semi-final Play-Off Match, the two competing Teams are level on score after taking into account the aggregate result over the two legs (aggregate score of home and away semi-finals after the second leg), then the Team which has scored more away goals shall qualify for the Final.
- If the Teams are still tied, meaning if both Teams have scored the same number of goals at home and away, then two 15-minute periods of extra time will be played at the end of normal time of the second leg, with an interval of 5 minutes at the end of normal playing time, but not between the two periods of extra time. Penalty shoot-out will be taken to determine the winner of the relevant Match.
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Final (single leg) shall be determined by:
- The victorious team from each of the semi-finals (after the 1st and 2nd legs have been completed) shall compete in the Final.
- If at the end of the regulation time in the Final, the two (2) competing teams are level on score, two 15-minute periods of extra time will be played between them. If the score is still level at the end of extra time, then a penalty shoot-out will be taken to determine the winner of the Final.
ISL 2017-18 & ISL 2018-19
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The position of Clubs on the League Table while the League Matches are in progress shall be determined by (in this order):
- Most number of points obtained in all League matches.
- Superior goal difference in all League Matches.
- Most number of goals scored in all League Matches.
-
However, the final position of the Team in the League Table (when all Teams have played all their League Matches) shall be determined by (in this order):
- Most number of points obtained in all League Matches.
-
If two or more Teams are equal on the basis of the above criterion, their place shall be determined as follows:
- Most number of points obtained in the League Matches between the Teams concerned.
- Superior goal difference resulting from the League Matches between the Teams concerned.
- Most number of goals scored in the League Matches between the Teams concerned.
- Superior goal difference in all the League Matches.
- Most number of goals scored in all the League Matches.
- Highest Fair Play Ranking.
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After the completion of all the scheduled League Matches, there will be Play-Off Matches culminating in the Final, to determine the ISL Champions (now ISL Cup Winners). The top four Clubs basis the League Table on completion of the League Matches stage will qualify for the Play-Off Matches.
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Playoffs (double leg) will include:
- The Play-Off Matches shall comprise of home and away semi-finals with the first placed Team in the League Table playing the fourth placed Team and the second and third placed Teams playing each other.
- The victorious Team from each of the semi-final Play-Off Matches (after the home and away legs have been completed) shall compete in the Final.
- If at the end of normal time of the second Match of any home and away semi-final Play-Off Match, the two competing Teams are level on score after taking into account the aggregate result over the two legs (aggregate score of home and away semi-finals after the second leg), then the Team which has scored more away goals shall qualify for the Final.
- If the Teams are still tied, meaning if both Teams have scored the same number of goals at home and away, then two 15-minute periods of extra time will be played at the end of normal time of the second leg, with an interval of 5 minutes at the end of normal playing time, but not between the two periods of extra time. A penalty shoot-out will be taken to determine the winner of the relevant Match.
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Final (single leg) shall be determined by:
- The victorious team from each of the semi-finals (after the 1st and 2nd legs have been completed) shall compete in the Final.
- If at the end of the regulation time in the Final, the two (2) competing teams are level on score, two 15-minute periods of extra time will be played between them. If the score is still level at the end of extra time, then a penalty shoot-out will be taken to determine the winner of the Final.
ISL 2014, ISL 2015 & ISL 2016
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The position of Clubs on the League Table while the League Matches are in progress shall be determined by (in this order):
- Most number of points obtained in all League matches.
- Superior goal difference in all League Matches.
- Most number of goals scored in all League Matches.
-
However, the final position of the Team in the League Table (when all Teams have played all their League Matches) shall be determined by (in this order):
- Most number of points obtained in all League Matches.
-
If two or more Teams are equal on the basis of the above criterion, their place shall be determined as follows:
- Most number of points obtained in the League Matches between the Teams concerned.
- Superior goal difference resulting from the League Matches between the Teams concerned.
- Most number of goals scored in the League Matches between the Teams concerned.
- Superior goal difference in all the League Matches.
- Most number of goals scored in all the League Matches.
- Highest Fair Play Ranking.
-
After the completion of all the scheduled League Matches, there will be Play-Off Matches culminating in the Final, to determine the ISL Champions (now ISL Cup Winners). The top four Clubs basis the League Table on completion of the League Matches stage will qualify for the Play-Off Matches.
-
Playoffs (double leg) will include:
- The Play-Off Matches shall comprise of home and away semi-finals with the first placed Team in the League Table playing the fourth placed Team and the second and third placed Teams playing each other.
- The victorious Team from each of the semi-final Play-Off Matches (after the home and away legs have been completed) shall compete in the Final.
- If in respect of the second Match of any home and away Play-Off Match and/or the Final the result after 90 minutes is a draw (aggregate score of home and away semi-finals after second leg in case of Play-off Matches), then extra time of two periods of 15 minutes each will be played. If the score is level after extra time, a penalty shoot-out will be taken to determine the winner of the relevant Match.
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Final (single leg) shall be determined by:
- The victorious team from each of the semi-finals (after the 1st and 2nd legs have been completed) shall compete in the Final.
- If at the end of the regulation time in the Final, the two (2) competing teams are level on score, two 15-minute periods of extra time will be played between them. If the score is still level at the end of extra time, then a penalty shoot-out will be taken to determine the winner of the Final.