New Delhi: A fresh controversy has struck Indian football after members of the national team, including head coach Khalid Jamil, were denied entry to the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium due to a payment dispute ahead of an upcoming international match.
The incident occurred when the team arrived at the stadium in Kochi for a scheduled pre match press conference before their AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Hong Kong. The match marks the national team’s return to the Kochi venue after nearly a decade.
However, as the coach and players attempted to enter the stadium, security personnel stopped them at the gate, citing non payment of certain dues linked to the venue. Among those reportedly denied entry were players Ashique Kuruniyan, Sahal Abdul Samad and Bijoy Varghese. Journalists present to cover the press interaction were also prevented from entering the stadium, leading to confusion and disruption.
The venue is managed by the Greater Cochin Development Authority, which reportedly insisted on the settlement of pending payments before granting access. Officials are said to have demanded a security deposit of around ₹20 to ₹25 lakh along with an additional ₹3 lakh as rent for the stadium.
Organisers sought additional time to clear the dues, but access to the facility was initially denied until payment arrangements were clarified.
Responding to the controversy, Navas Meeran, president of the Kerala Football Association, described the situation as a minor technical issue and assured that it would be resolved soon. He confirmed that the Asian Cup qualifier scheduled for March 31 will proceed as planned.
The incident has once again highlighted coordination problems between local football authorities and stadium management. A similar dispute occurred earlier this year when Kerala Blasters FC were reportedly denied entry to the same stadium over payment related issues, raising concerns about administrative management of major sporting events in the region.
