Jamshedpur FC pulling out of ISL a punch in the gut: Sunil Chhetri
Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri has criticized Jamshedpur FC's decision to withdraw from the Indian Super League. The club's exit leaves players and staff without teams and raises concerns about the future of corporate investment in Indian football.
Why it matters
The withdrawal of a major corporate-backed team threatens the stability and growth of the professional football ecosystem in India.
Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri has expressed his anguish over Indian Super League side Jamshedpur FC's decision to pull out of the upcoming season, describing the development as "a punch in the gut" and urging the club's management to reconsider.
Jamshedpur FC, winners of the ISL Winners' Shield in the 2021-22 season, had announced their withdrawal from the ISL on July 31 just hours after missing the deadline for payment of participation fee for the upcoming season, beginning September 4.
In a post on Instagram, the club had confirmed that it would not participate in the ISL from the 2026-27 season onwards. The upcoming season will now feature 13 teams.
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