Argentina football friendly: Beleaguered GCDA comes out with clarification

Battered from various quarters over the alleged lack of transparency in involving a private entity for the renovation of the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium ahead of the now-cancelled international friendly featuring the Lionel Messi-led Argentina team, originally scheduled for November 17, the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) issued a clarification late Monday evening.

The statement said that despite the postponement of the match, the event sponsor, Reporter Broadcasting Corporation (RBC), had assured that the renovation works would be completed by November 30, and that Indian Super League (ISL) matches would be held at the stadium in December. It further said that the GCDA would take all necessary steps to host the friendly match at the stadium if and when it is sanctioned under the FIFA window.

The statement clarified that the Director of Sports and Youth Affairs had written to the GCDA on September 24, requesting that the stadium be handed over to the Sports Kerala Foundation (SKF) for match preparations. The GCDA expressed its willingness on the same day. Accordingly, the SKF took over the stadium from the GCDA on an “as is where is” basis for the period between September 26 and November 30 and subsequently handed it over to RBC.

A three-member technical coordination committee comprising the SKF chief engineer, GCDA superintendenting engineer, and RBC general manager was constituted following a meeting on October 11. The committee was tasked with determining the renovation works to be undertaken, conducting quantity assessments and quality checks, and securing a fitness certificate for the stadium. Similarly, a three-member monitoring committee comprising the SKF managing director, GCDA secretary, and RBC managing director was formed to oversee the renovation works.

A meeting of the State-level committee, chaired by the Chief Secretary on October 19, ordered that follow-up measures be expedited. The statement admitted that less than 40 days were available for preparing the stadium and carrying out the renovation works. Nevertheless, it noted that the work was progressing at a rapid pace, thanks to the cooperation of the State government and the sponsor, until the match had to be postponed due to delays in securing FIFA approval for the venue.

The ₹70 crore that the sponsors claim to be investing in upgrading the stadium was an “amorphous and subjective” estimate, Mr. Pillai had said earlier.

He had further emphasised that there was no question of granting any exclusive rights to the sponsor beyond the one-off international friendly match, whenever it takes place. The sponsor’s role is strictly limited to upgrading the stadium to meet FIFA standards. While they did seek additional privileges related to the stadium beyond the match, citing their investment, it was clearly communicated that no such arrangement was possible, Mr. Pillai added.