Jamshedpur FC Withdraws from Indian Super League, Prompting Sunil Chhetri Appeal

Jamshedpur FC announced it will withdraw from the Indian Super League (ISL) for the 2026‑27 season after missing the deadline to pay the participation fee. The club, founded in 2017 and winner of the 2021‑22 ISL Winners’ Shield, cited the All India Football Federation’s requirement of a Rs 1.1 crore administrative fee as a factor and said it will wind up senior‑team operations while continuing grassroots development.

India’s all‑time top scorer Sunil Chhetri expressed anguish, describing the withdrawal as “a punch in the gut” and urging the Tata Group, which owns the club, to reconsider. He warned that the loss of Tata’s involvement would be a disaster for Indian football. The ISL will continue with 13 teams, and the league’s future remains uncertain without a broadcast partner.