GCDA rent dispute forces Blasters to shift pre-match press meet online

The Indian Super League (ISL) team, Kerala Blasters Football Club (KBFC), was denied permission to hold its customary pre-match press conference at the media room of the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium (JNIS), its home ground, here ahead of the season opener against Mumbai FC on Sunday (February 22, 2026).

The denial was the latest episode of the prevailing uncertainty over the stadium rent payable by KBFC to the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA), which owns the stadium. Barely ten minutes before the scheduled press meet at 11.30 a.m on Saturday (February, security personnel walked in and asked KBFC officials and journalists to vacate the media room, citing instructions “from the top.” Head coach David Catala and player Rowllin Borges, who were slated to address the media, were spared the embarrassment of being unceremoniously ushered out as they were inspecting the turf at the time. They later address the media online.

GCDA sources said permission was withheld as the stadium rent had not yet been remitted. “As soon as the team makes the payment, the stadium and related facilities will be opened to them,” they said.

Although GCDA had earlier assured a heavily discounted rent of ₹2 lakh (plus GST) on compassionate grounds, in view of the financial strain faced by ISL and its franchises, the authority reversed its decision almost at the eleventh hour and demanded ₹4.20 lakh (plus GST). GCDA Chairman K. Chandran Pillai had said that the authority would charge KBFC only ₹2 lakh per match, compared to ₹8.40 lakh last season, at the request of the All India Football Federation. “But this is strictly a one-time arrangement,” he told a press conference on February 11.

The last-minute flip-flop has left KBFC grappling with a logistical nightmare ahead of its opening fixture. The team was originally scheduled to play nine matches at the stadium during this season.

“While we had offered a heavily discounted rent, we were compelled to revisit the decision after the GCDA executive committee opposed it, citing the substantial maintenance costs of the upgraded facilities at the stadium. The upkeep of the newly laid turf alone costs around ₹50 lakh annually. KBFC has submitted a written appeal seeking a reduction in rent. Discussions are underway,” GCDA sources added.

A private sponsor had recently renovated the stadium for a highly publicised international friendly match featuring the Argentina national team led by Lionel Messi. The match originally scheduled for November 25, 2025, had since been deferred.