THE 2017 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League was watched by 15 000 fewer spectators compared to 2016.

PSL chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele told guests at the Castle Lager Soccer Stars awards last Friday that 426 000 paying fans attended matches this year compared to 441 000 in 2016.

Ndebele attributed the drop in attendance to violence, hooliganism, poor match organisation and poor infrastructure, which he said was still of concern to the league.

“To have one of the league’s flagship matches between Highlanders and Dynamos abandoned in the first half of the season due to crowd disturbances is a bad advertisement for our football,” said Ndebele.

“Millions of television viewers across the world had to endure what football must not be. Challenges such as collapsing of goal posts and pitch invasions have to be solved through strict implementation of club licensing.”

He urged fans to shun acts that tarnish the league’s reputation, saying the advancement of football requires a collaborative effort from all stakeholders.

Ndebele called on the football community to join the PSL in promoting the sport to realise their objective of making football more than just a game.

He said the expanded league of 18 teams saw a total of 306 matches being played compared to the previous season’s 240 matches.

There were 620 goals scored in the 2017 season; an increase of 170 from last season’s 450.

He paid tribute to sponsors Delta Beverages for their trust and confidence in the PSL brand, as the league celebrated its 25th anniversary this year.

“Through your support, we have been able to deliver entertaining football to fans across the country. We are also grateful to you for sponsoring the Castle Challenge Cup, which was the highlight of our Silver Jubilee celebrations.”