Sunil Chhetri Urges Tata To Reconsider Jamshedpur FC’s ISL exit

Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri has strongly reacted to Jamshedpur FC’s decision to shut down first-team operations and withdraw from the Indian Super League (ISL), calling it a “punch to the gut” and urging the Tata Group to reconsider the move.

In a post on X, Chhetri said Jamshedpur FC had been one of the pillars of Indian football through the Tata Football Academy and later the ISL club.

Chhetri appeals to Tata Group

“It takes a lot to be a stakeholder in Indian football. It has been like that for some time now. But when everything around looks like it will crumble, you bank on family to hold on to each other,” Chhetri wrote.

“To know that Jamshedpur has folded first-team operations is a punch to the gut,” he added.

‘Indian football needs Tata’

Chhetri said the departure of a long-standing corporate backer such as the Tata Group would have consequences beyond one club.

“The players and staff will be without clubs, and they might find one by the end of it all. The League will have a team less, but the season will go on. However, not having the Tata Group involved in the top tier of Indian football — that would be a disaster with no alternative,” he said.

Appealing directly to the club’s management, Chhetri urged the decision-makers to “pick heart over head” and reconsider the withdrawal.

Chhetri said that he understood some tough decisions in sport were based on what made sense in the boardroom, but he hoped the Tata Group’s decision-makers would choose their heart over their head and reconsider the move. 

He added that while it might be a poor business decision, it was the one Indian football needed the most at this moment. 

Jamshedpur FC to exit ISL after nine seasons

Jamshedpur FC announced on Friday that it would withdraw from the ISL from the 2026-27 season onwards. The decision was confirmed by Jamshedpur Football and Sporting Private Limited (JFSPL), the Tata Steel-owned entity that operates the club.

While announcing its exit, JFSPL said it would continue contributing to Indian football through grassroots development and youth programmes and remain committed to identifying and nurturing young talent across the country.

Founded ahead of the 2017-18 ISL season, Jamshedpur FC spent nine seasons in India’s top-flight league. 

The club’s biggest achievement came in the 2021-22 season when it won the ISL League Shield under head coach Owen Coyle. It also reached the playoffs in the 2024-25 season under Khalid Jamil.

The club is currently participating in the ongoing Durand Cup, although it remains uncertain whether it will complete the tournament following the withdrawal announcement.