Jamshedpur FC fans appeal to reconsider ISL exit decision with heartfelt letter to authorities

Jamshedpur FC became Champions of India in 2021-22 season

The news of Jamshedpur FC withdrawing from the Indian Super League from the 2026-27 season onwards has sent shockwaves across the entire Indian football fraternity, with many big names in Indian football, players, coaches and fans appealing to higher TATA authorities to reconsider their decision.

Ahead of the Durand Cup game against SC Delhi, Jamshedpur FC fans filled the Birsa Munda Stadium in Ranchi in large numbers and brought tifos and banners to draw the attention of TATA management. Jamshedpur FC’s official fan group, The Red Miners penned down an heartfelt and emotional appeal in the form of a letter to the Chairperson of Jamshedpur FC, D.B. Sundara Ramam.

In this article, we take a close look at what was written in that letter and what Jamshedpur FC fans are demanding from senior TATA authorities.

JFC is not only a source of pride, but also a source of livelihood

Unlike other ISL teams based out of big metropolitan cities like Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi or Mumbai, Jamshedpur FC hailed from a small city of Jamshedpur, where the club served as a major source of joy and happiness for millions of fans in the Steel City.

Jharkhand is known for producing some of the raw and finest sporting talents in the country across various sports. The club represented the heart and soul of the tribal state of Jharkhand, where young local players like Mobashir Rahman and Nikhil Barla dared to dream and continue to inspire millions.

The home games at the Furnace also generated multiple employment opportunities for so many people. From street vendors selling jerseys and merchandise outside the stadium to cleaners and security guards, Jamshedpur FC was also a source of livelihood for so many people across the Steel City.

The letter wrote, “The JRD Tata Sports Complex became much more than a stadium. It became “The Furnace”, a place where thousands of voices became one. Those packed stands were not built overnight. They were earned through years of trust, commitment, and a bond that supporters built with this club season after season.”

“The impact of Jamshedpur FC extends far beyond the football pitch. Every home match creates work and opportunities for countless people – stadium staff, security personnel, vendors, transport providers, photographers, hospitality workers, and many small businesses that depend on matchdays. For many families, the club is not only a source of pride but also a source of livelihood.”

Despite Jamshedpur hosting international cricket matches, it was known as football loving city

Just few metres apart from the JRD Tata Sports Complex resides the Keenan Cricket Stadium, which hosted several international matches where legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, MS Dhoni, Kapil Dev and many others have played.

However, in a blind cricketing nation, Jamshedpur was obsessed with football, where kids grew up aspiring to become like Chhetri and Bhutia. The Tata Football Academy was one such institute of excellence that produced some of the finest footballers in this country, like Subrata Paul and Robin Singh.

The letter quoted, “In a country where cricket dominates almost every conversation, Jamshedpur became known as a football city. Young boys and girls finally had a club they could truly call their own. Players like Mobashir Rahman and Nikhil Barla showed every aspiring footballer in Jharkhand that dreams do not have to begin in the biggest cities, they can begin right here at home.”

Jamshedpur FC records one of the highest average attendance in ISL

The 23,000-capacity stadium, also referred to as the Furnace is house full in almost every matchday. Despite the Red Miners making it to the ISL semi-finals only twice in almost a decade, the fans have stuck with the club through thick and thin, and they indeed deserve better.

Even in a difficult season like the 2025-26 season, which got delayed due to MRA expiration, the Furnace hosted one of the highest home games for any team, and the fans did not fail to turn up for the team, even on festive occasions and even when the team was not at its best.

“Please do not let The Furnace fall silent. “The Tata name has always stood for building institutions that serve society, create opportunities, and leave a lasting legacy. Jamshedpur FC is one such institution. It belongs not only to the Tata family but also to the people of Jamshedpur, who embraced it as their own from the very first day. We still believe there is time to write a different ending to this story.”

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