AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey breaks silence on Jamshedpur FC's ISL exit
Kalyan Chaubey speaks for the first time after Jamshedpur FC’s ISL exit
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) President, Kalyan Chaubey has finally broken his silence on Jamshedpur FC’s ISL exit after almost 3-4 days after the statement was issued on Jamshedpur FC’s social media handles. The AIFF President expressed the federation’s desire to see Jamshedpur FC continue in Indian football’s premier top division.
Speaking to PTI, Kalyan Chaubey acknowledged that the final decision rests with TATA however have urged them to reconsider this decision and stating that AIFF is willing to make an appeal for Indian football’s interest and continuous growth.
AIFF wants Jamshedpur FC to continue
With all the current situation going on around the sudden exit of Jamshedpur FC, multiple figures in Indian football have raised their voice along with fans. Now, AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey shared his views and expressed his disappointment and urged TATA to continue with Jamshedpur FC.
However, he also mentioned that there must be reasons for this decision by TATA, but it is not the participation fee or the management fee that led to this.
“AIFF would be happy if Tata remains in football, especially in senior top tier football. If an AIFF request or application can change their mind…the AIFF would like to appeal that for the interest of the players and football, Tata should remain in the senior football league, the AIFF welcomes any suggestion from them and is ready to incorporate those suggestions to ensure the best possible outcome.”
“It’s all about, I think, some decision in the boardroom. And I’m sure there are reasons, but it cannot be for Rs 1.1 crore participation fee or management fee. It is not that. When the board decided to withdraw the senior team (Jamshedpur FC) from the top-tier league, I am sure they had a reason for taking this harsh decision,” said AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey via PTI
“They are aware of the football fans’ reaction, but I assume this cannot be only a financial decision because Tata has many enterprises and businesses,” he further added.
The legacy of TATA in Indian football
Kalyan Chaubey who has himself trained at the TATA Football Academy (TFA) during his football career, also shared the legacy TATA have in Indian football stressing that TATA will never consider sports a mere business and have contributed to almost every sport in India.
He also talked about a previous instance when the TATA Football Academy (TFA) was going to shut down but eventually survived and since then have become an important part of Indian football.
Kalyan Chaubey said, “We have seen many corporates become very prominent over the last few decades, but we have also seen many corporates go bankrupt thereafter. But Tata is different. It has gained that respect, earned that respect among Indians.”
“Tata will never consider sports merely as a medium for business, revenue generation, profit, or loss. They have done so much for Indian sport. They have invested in archery and several other areas, and in football, I think most of the youth development system has come through the Tata Football Academy.”
“It was rumoured that TFA would be closed down, the Archery Academy would start, the Engineer Hostel would start, and the Cricket Academy would start. Many rumours were there. But since we won two tournaments in Germany and the Netherlands at the junior level, it became a headline in London. So, officers from the London Tata office came and met us. They gave us incentives, PK Banerjee and Ranjan Choudhury were the coach and technical director. So that’s how the Tata Football Academy continued, which was supposed to be closed down in 1992,” Kalyan Chaubey further revealed.
Kalyan Chaubey’s emotional bond with Tata Football Academy (TFA)
The AIFF President spoke about his deep emotional bond that he shares with the TATA Football Academy (TFA) from his playing days. He further talked about the importance of the Academy in Indian football and shaping careers of various Indian players.
“I learned football through Tata Football Academy. Since 1987 till date, nearly 275 or more players have graduated from TFA. I am also one among them and perhaps Renedy Singh and myself served the longest period in the Tata Football Academy,” said Kalyan Chaubey.
Who is the president of AIFF?
Kalyan Chaubey is the president of AIFF.
Will Jamshedpur FC play in ISL 2026-27?
No, Jamshedpur FC will not continue from this coming season onwards.
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Ayushman Sharma is a sports enthusiast with a deep love for football, following the game closely since 2018. A hardcore supporter of NorthEast United FC and FC Barcelona, he has also gained valuable on-ground experience by volunteering during FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in Guwahati.