All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey has made an appeal to the Tata Group to reconsider its “shocking” decision to withdraw Jamshedpur FC from the Indian Super League, highlighting Tata’s deep-rooted legacy in Indian football development.

The Tata Group has made it clear that JFC’s exit from the ISL was a long-planned strategic decision to ensure that the company returns to its core ideal of grassroots football development. Tata Steel vice-president (corporate services) D B Sundara Ramam has also insisted that the move has “nothing to do” with the uncertainty surrounding the ISL’s commercial future and would not be reconsidered.

However, Chaubey said the AIFF would still hope for a rethink by the legacy corporate house. “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,” Chaubey said. “The AIFF welcomes any suggestion (from them) and is ready to incorporate the suggestions to ensure the best outcome,” he said.

While Tata Steel has assured that Jamshedpur FC will honour all existing player contracts and help footballers find new clubs, the AIFF president said he has faith in Tata group and its decisions cannot be driven by commercial interests.

“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 from the top-tier league, I am sure they had a reason for taking this harsh decision. “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 observed.

Chaubey said he has immense respect for the group’s contribution to the sport’s growth through the Tata Football Academy that has been in operation since 1987. “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,” he noted.

“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,” Chaubey added.