Jamshedpur FC players have appealed to the Tata Group to reconsider its decision to withdraw the club from the 2026-27 Indian Super League season, a move that will end the club's nine-year stint in India's top-flight football.
The announcement came as a shock to the squad, who are currently participating in the Durand Cup. Defender Pratik Chaudhari, in a video shared on X, said the players were left confused, angry and worried after being informed that the club would cease operations following the tournament.
Pratik said the squad had chosen to represent Jamshedpur FC because of the trust associated with the Tata brand, despite having offers from other clubs. He highlighted the team's achievements over the past decade, including winning the League Winners' Shield and consistently competing at the top level. He also pointed to the club's contribution to Indian football by promoting academy graduates such as Nikhil, Vishal and Sennan, who have gone on to represent the country.
Appealing to the Tata Group's leadership, Pratik said shutting down the club would be a setback not only for Jamshedpur FC but also for Indian football and Indian sport as a whole. He urged the management to reconsider the decision, especially at a time when the country's footballing ambitions include qualifying for the FIFA World Cup.
Veteran midfielder Pranoy Halder also made an emotional appeal, requesting Tata Steel and the Tata Group to preserve the legacy built through the Tata Football Academy and continue providing young footballers with a platform to compete in India's premier league.
Jamshedpur FC's exit from the ISL follows its failure to pay the mandatory participation fee under the league's new commercial framework, despite receiving an extension from the AIFF. Although the club did not explicitly cite the unpaid fee in its statement, it indicated that concerns over the revised participation structure influenced its decision.
The withdrawal comes amid broader uncertainty surrounding Indian football and the ISL. Established in 2017 after Tata Steel secured an expansion franchise, Jamshedpur FC earned a reputation as one of the league's best-managed clubs, winning the League Winners' Shield in the 2021-22 season under Owen Coyle. The club also operates from the JRD Tata Sports Complex, one of India's leading privately owned football facilities.
Despite stepping away from the ISL, Jamshedpur FC has said it will continue investing in grassroots football and youth development programmes.
