Indian football was hit by yet another off-field controversy ahead of the national team’s AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Hong Kong as head coach Khalid Jamil and three players were denied entry to the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kochi. The incident, which disrupted pre-match media duties, raised serious questions about administrative coordination.
The Indian team arrived at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium for a scheduled press conference ahead of their clash with Hong Kong, their first match in Kochi in almost a decade. Instead, Jamil along with Ashique Kuruniyan, Sahal Abdul Samad and Bijoy Varghese were stopped at the gates by Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) security personnel. The problem was a pending payment.
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KFA president Navas Meeran tried to play down the situation while dealing with the issue, describing it as a minor technical problem and assured that the match would go ahead as planned.
“The Asian Cup qualifiers will continue as planned. What happened on Thursday was a minor technical issue and it will be resolved soon,” Meeran said.
Despite assurances, the incident forced Jamil to wait outside before finally leaving, while journalists were also denied access as the main gates remained closed.
HOW INDIAN FOOTBALL WAS HUMILIATED AGAIN
The episode was widely seen as an embarrassment for Indian football, especially given the importance of the match. It marked the return of the national team to Kochi after almost 10 years, with their last appearance at the venue coming in 2016.
Instead, the focus shifted from football to administrative lapses. Reports suggested that the GCDA demanded a security deposit of Rs 20-25 million and an amount of Rs 3 million as rent. GCDA officials refused entry without full payment, while KFA asked for more time.
The situation escalated to the point where even the pre-match press conference and access to training were affected, leaving players and staff stranded outside the stadium.
WHAT IS THE AIFF-GCDA CONTROVERSY?
This is not the first such incident at the site. In February, Kerala Blasters players and staff were also denied entry before an ISL match over a similar payment dispute.
In both cases, disagreements over deposits and rent led to the stadium being locked out. The venue is owned by the GCDA while the matches are organized through the KFA and coordination between the two has clearly been an issue.
Repeated disputes over payments, be it Rs 20 crore advances or matching rents, point to deeper problems in planning and communication. Every time, it’s the teams and the players that face the consequences.
India are still scheduled to play Hong Kong on March 31 and the issue is expected to be resolved soon. However, the bigger concern remains how often such incidents occur in Indian football.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
27 Mar 2026 07:50 IST
