Jamshedpur FC players have put out a heartfelt request to the Tata Group, the owner of the team, to reconsider their decision not to play in the 2026-27 season of the Indian Super League, a day after it was announced that the team are withdrawing itself from Indian football’s top tier.
Earlier this month, the All India Football Federation set a July 20 deadline for clubs to pay Rs 1.1 crore in administrative fees across two instalments. The deadline was later extended until Friday evening.
The club announced that it will withdraw from the ISL from the 2026-27 season onwards. The upcoming ISL season is scheduled to start on September 4.
“Hello everyone, it has been a shock for us since yesterday after hearing the news that the club would shut operations.
We were informed that we wouldn’t continue beyond the Durand Cup,” the players said in a video posted by veteran defender Pratik Chaudhari on X.
APPEAL TO TATA GROUP
We, the players of Jamshedpur, with folded hands plead to Tata’s Top Leadership to rethink their decision. And not destroy the future of Indian Football. This club is the heart and soul of Indian football and the only hope for lakhs of upcoming players. pic.twitter.com/aEsmdHGxSl
— Pratik Chaudhari (@pratikch89) August 1, 2026
“We were confused, angry and worried about the future and we still are. The news came as a huge shock because it involved Tata, a name and brand we have always trusted,” Chaudhari said.
“As professionals, we all had offers from several clubs, but we believed in this project and chose to be here. But everyone here chose Tata’s because it’s a brand; there is a trust thing that comes in when you hear Tata’s,” Chaudhari added.
According to a report in PTI, Jamshedpur FC’s board of directors has decided to wind up the first team as of now.
