Safety concerns over stadium in Kannur mount ahead of football league

After years of silence, the Jawahar Municipal Stadium in Kannur is gearing up to host a major football tournament. The event is significant as the Kerala Football Association (KFA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Kannur Corporation, leasing the stadium for three years. The ground will serve as the home venue for Kannur Warriors FC, which will play its first Super League Kerala match here on November 7.

However, the excitement is clouded by serious safety and structural concerns. The stadium, which has seen little maintenance for years is reportedly in a dilapidated conditions. Portions of the ceiling have collapsed and the spectators galleries show visible signs of structural distress. Adding to the concern, the Fire and Rescue Services confirmed that organisers have not obtained the mandatory safety clearance required for public events.

A visit by The Hindu to the rooms and shop spaces beneath the spectator galleries found severe water seepage during rains, with ceilings collapsing in parts and water leaking through cracks. Several tenants, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they had spent from their own pockets to fix the leaks and ceiling damage so they could keep their businesses running.

Despite its deteriorating condition, the Kannur Corporation has reportedly leased the ground to the KFA for a substantial sum, without ensuring that safety measures were in place.

Superintendent Engineer of the Engineering Wing of the Corporation Chandran said, “We have not received any request, nor have we issued any safety certificate to the KFA for organising the Super League.” He added that the association had earlier been granted permission to hold smaller events only after limited verification.

Another senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the earlier fitness certificate had been issued “without proper analysis or inspection.” He noted that the eastern galleries were in particularly poor condition and have already been certified unsafe, though several shops continue to operate beneath them.

The stadium, which can accommodate about 15,000 spectators, has not been issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) by the Fire and Rescue Services department. District Fire Officer Arun Bhaskar said neither the Corporation nor the KFA had applied for one. “Only if they approach us can we verify and issue an NOC,” he added.

Human Rights activist and sports commentator V. Devadas, voicing concern, said the galleries were visibly weak and criticised the Corporation for restricting public access to the ground, which houses Kannur’s only track and field facility.