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New Delhi: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has given Jamshedpur FC until August 12 to reconsider their decision to withdraw from the upcoming 2026-27 Indian Super League (ISL) season. The AIFF Executive Committee was informed of the move on Thursday.On July 31, the Tata Steel-owned Jamshedpur FC surprisingly pulled the plug on participating in the next ISL season. The move took everyone, including players, coaching staff, veterans, fans and fellow clubs, by surprise. Legendary footballer Sunil Chhetri called it a “punch to the gut.”Fans marched in protest, launched online petitions and unfurled banners during the Durand Cup clash against SC Delhi, appealing to the club’s ownership to reverse its decision.“The decision to exit the ISL is primarily due to the inability of JFSPL (Jamshedpur Football and Sporting Private Limited) to generate cashflows to run the club,” club CEO Mukul Choudhari said in an email to the AIFF.“JFSPL relies almost entirely on its shareholders to fund all of its operating costs, either through equity or sponsorship. The shareholders have communicated that they are unable to commit significant funding or sponsorship going forward because they believe the business model of JFC’s participation in the ISL, in its current form, is structurally financially unviable for the foreseeable future,” he continued.
AIFF would be happy if Tata remains in football, especially in senior top-tier football. If an AIFF request or appeal can change their mind, the AIFF would like to urge them, in the interest of the players and Indian football, to remain in the senior football league.
Kalyan Chaubey| AIFF President
For its part, AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey has urged the company to reconsider its decision.“AIFF would be happy if Tata remains in football, especially in senior top-tier football. If an AIFF request or appeal can change their mind, the AIFF would like to urge them, in the interest of the players and Indian football, to remain in the senior football league,” Chaubey told PTI.“The AIFF welcomes any suggestions from them and is ready to incorporate them to ensure the best outcome,” he said.Jamshedpur FC were founded in 2017 and played their first ISL season in 2017-18. The club has maintained that it will honour its contractual agreements and pay its players, coaches and support staff.The 2021-22 ISL Shield winners said they will instead focus on nurturing home-grown youth talent through “grassroots programmes, quality coaching and structured development pathways.”
