Jamshedpur FC supporters urge Tata to reconsider ISL exit in Ranchi letter
Jamshedpur FC supporters appealed to Tata authorities to reconsider the club’s decision to withdraw from the Indian Super League from the 2026-27 season, making their plea at the Birsa Munda Stadium in Ranchi ahead of the club’s Durand Cup game against SC Delhi. The Red Miners, the club’s official fan group, formalised the appeal in a written letter addressed to Jamshedpur FC chairperson D.B. Sundara Ramam.
The announcement of the withdrawal prompted reactions across Indian football, with players, coaches and fans asking senior Tata management to review the decision. Ahead of the Durand Cup fixture the stands at Birsa Munda were filled and supporters displayed tifos and banners aimed at drawing the attention of Tata management. The letter emphasised Jamshedpur’s status as a club from a smaller city that provided joy to millions in the Steel City, and presented the club as representing the heart and soul of the tribal state of Jharkhand. It named local players Mobashir Rahman and Nikhil Barla as examples of the talent the club has showcased.
In the letter the Red Miners 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."
They also framed the club’s economic role in direct terms, writing: "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."
The letter noted the proximity of the Keenan Cricket Stadium and referenced international cricket figures who have played there, listing Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, MS Dhoni and Kapil Dev. It also cited the Tata Football Academy and named graduates Subrata Paul and Robin Singh. On the city’s footballing identity the Red Miners added: "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."
The JRD Tata Sports Complex’s capacity of 23,000 was noted in the letter, which described the Furnace as being house full on almost every matchday. The supporters pointed out that the club reached the ISL semi-finals twice in almost a decade but that attendance and backing remained strong even in the difficult 2025-26 season, which the letter says was delayed due to MRA expiration. The Red Miners added that the Furnace hosted one of the highest home turnouts for any team and that fans continued to attend on festive occasions and when the team was not performing at its best.
Supporters used banners and tifos at the stadium to urge Tata management to continue supporting Jamshedpur FC and to protect the club’s future, and the written appeal was formally directed to Chairperson D.B. Sundara Ramam.
The appeal and the fan displays took place immediately ahead of Jamshedpur’s Durand Cup match against SC Delhi, the fixture cited in the letter’s timing and context.