Several coaches throughout the course of the previous season had voiced their displeasure over refereeing standards in the Indian Super League (ISL). Bengaluru FC manager Carles Cuadrat, former Mumbai City FC and Jamshedpur coaches Jorge Costa and Antonio Iriondo respectively, did not mince words to criticise referees for schoolboy errors on the pitch.
Alarm bells started ringing in the FSDL (Football and Sports Development Limited) headquarters as well and the league organisers approached the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to take cognizance of the issue, and find a short term solution along with a long term blueprint on the lines of a referee development program.