National Team Coach Denied Entry To Kochi Stadium After Association Didn't Pay 'Security Deposit'

Last Updated:March 27, 2026, 07:30 IST

Indian team and coach Khalid Jamil denied Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Kochi entry after Kerala Football Association security deposit row with GCDA before Hong Kong qualifier.

Players and the head coach of the Indian men’s football team were on Thursday denied entry to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi for a press conference, after the Kerala Football Association failed to pay a mandatory security deposit to the stadium owners.

The Indian players, including three from Kerala, and head coach Khalid Jamil arrived at the venue for a pre-match press conference ahead of the senior national team’s final AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers fixture against Hong Kong on March 31.

What Happens Now?

However, they were refused entry due to a dispute over the unpaid amount between the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA), which owns the stadium, and the Kerala Football Association.

“The issue is that the Kerala FA (football association) was supposed to pay a certain amount to the stadium authorities to block the stadium for four days for the match. That’s why the authorities blocked entry," a source in the All India Football Federation (AIFF) said.

As a result, the press conference was called off.

What The Rules Say?

As per Asian Football Confederation criteria, a stadium needs to be booked for four days for an AFC fixture.

The source added that the match should still go ahead as scheduled, as the money is expected to be deposited three days before the game.

Jamil was accompanied by home-grown players Ashique Kuruniyan, Sahal Abdul Samad, and Bijoy Varghese.

This is not the first such incident involving the GCDA. Earlier, a press conference of Indian Super League side Kerala Blasters FC was similarly disrupted during the current ISL season ahead of their match against Mumbai City FC last month.

Jamil has named a 23-member squad for the final match. The Blue Tigers began their camp in Kochi on Tuesday.

With India already ruled out of qualification for the Asian Cup, the match will serve as preparation for future assignments.

(With inputs from Agencies)

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