India's Tata Steel offload top-flight club Jamshedpur for $1

Tata Steel has officially divested its entire stake in the Indian Super League (ISL) side Jamshedpur FC, selling it to Goa-based club Churchill Brothers for a token sum of 100 Indian rupees ($1.05). This move comes just two weeks after the conglomerate announced its departure from the ISL, leaving the city of Jamshedpur without its only top-flight football representation.

Churchill Brothers, a twice-crowned national league champion, will assume Jamshedpur FC's sporting license to compete in the ISL. They will also inherit the contracts of 12 players and two coaches. D. B. Sundara Ramam, Tata Steel's vice president of corporate services, expressed satisfaction that the agreement allows players and coaches to continue their careers in club football.

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We are glad that this agreement gives our players and coaches the opportunity to continue playing club football.

Earlier this month, Jamshedpur FC players made an emotional appeal to the club's owners to reconsider the closure. Fans also took to the streets to urge the Tata Group to keep the team active. However, Friday's announcement dashed these hopes. Jamshedpur, located in the eastern state of Jharkhand, is now left without a team in the country's premier football league, while Churchill Brothers are based in Goa, almost 2,000 km to the south.

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We had to be back where we belong. Our President Churchill Alemao ... never stopped believing. Somehow, he always finds a way.

The exit of Tata Steel occurs amidst uncertainties surrounding the ISL, which was previously backed by Indian conglomerate Reliance. The league has yet to release this season's fixtures or announce its broadcaster. Sundara Ramam thanked the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Churchill Brothers for facilitating a smooth transition.

Churchill Brothers, who last competed in the ISL in the 2013-14 season, had sought promotion after topping the second-tier I-League in 2024-25. However, their promotion hopes were dashed when the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned a points deduction for Inter Kashi, allowing Kashi to claim the championship. Despite this setback, Churchill Brothers posted on Instagram, "We had to be back where we belong... Somehow, he always finds a way."

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We thank AIFF and Churchill Brothers for their partnership in making this transition a smooth one.