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Sunil Chhetri Urges Tata Group to Reverse Jamshedpur FC Shutdown, Citing Blow to Indian Football
🇸🇬 Singapore /Sports

Sunil Chhetri Urges Tata Group to Reverse Jamshedpur FC Shutdown, Citing Blow to Indian Football

From CNA · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Former India captain Sunil Chhetri urged Tata Group to reconsider shutting down Indian Super League club Jamshedpur FC.
  • Chhetri stated that the conglomerate's exit from top-flight football would be a significant blow to the sport in India.
  • He believes that while it might be a poor business decision, it is a move Indian football needs at this critical time.

Former India football captain Sunil Chhetri has appealed to the Tata Group to reverse its decision to withdraw from the Indian Super League (ISL) by shutting down Jamshedpur FC. Chhetri expressed that the conglomerate's departure from top-tier football would represent a major setback for the sport in India.

Jamshedpur FC announced its withdrawal from the ISL on Friday. The league itself is facing uncertainty, with no confirmed start date for the 2026-27 season and a lack of a broadcast partner. The ISL, now operating under a club-led management model, has reportedly struggled to gain traction. India's current FIFA ranking is 138th in the world.

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.

— Sunil ChhetriChhetri stated that the league would continue without Jamshedpur FC but emphasized the catastrophic impact of Tata Group's absence from Indian top-flight football.

"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," Chhetri wrote on the social media platform X. He added, "I can only request and hope that the think tank at TATA picks their heart over head and reconsiders this call. It might be a poor business decision, but it will be the one Indian football needs the most at this hour."

Founded in 2017, Jamshedpur FC has achieved some success, winning the ISL League Winners' Shield in the 2021-22 season and reaching the final of the domestic Super Cup last year. The ISL experienced a shortened season last year following the end of a 15-year commercial partnership between the All India Football Federation and Reliance Industries amid a Supreme Court case concerning the implementation of a new AIFF constitution.

I can only request and hope that the think tank at TATA picks their heart over head and reconsiders this call. It might be a poor business decision, but it will be the one Indian football needs the most at this hour.

— Sunil ChhetriChhetri urged Tata Group to reconsider their decision, suggesting it might be a poor business move but a necessary one for Indian football at this time.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CNA in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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