Locked out before kickoff: Payment row halts India team’s Kochi media duties

Indian football’s preparations for the AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Hong Kong were thrown into disarray after head coach Khalid Jamil and three players were denied entry into Kochi’s Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium due to a delay in payment clearance, triggering fresh concerns over administrative lapses.

The Indian contingent had arrived at the venue for a scheduled pre-match press conference ahead of their March 31 clash. Instead, Jamil, along with Ashique Kuruniyan, Sahal Abdul Samad and Bijoy Varghese, was stopped at the gates by security personnel of the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA), citing pending dues.

The unexpected standoff forced the cancellation of media interactions, with players and journalists left stranded outside as the stadium gates remained shut.

Kerala Football Association (KFA) president Navas Meeran sought to downplay the incident, calling it a “minor technical issue” and insisting the qualifier would proceed as scheduled. However, the episode has once again spotlighted coordination failures between organizing bodies.

A return overshadowed by chaos

The fixture was meant to mark India’s return to Kochi after nearly a decade—the last appearance at the venue coming in 2016. Instead, attention shifted from on-field action to off-field disarray.

Reports indicate that the GCDA demanded a security deposit of ₹20–25 lakh along with ₹3 lakh as match rent. With the payment yet to be fully settled, officials reportedly refused access, while the KFA sought additional time.

The impasse disrupted not only the press conference but also training access, leaving the national team in limbo just days before a crucial international fixture.

Recurring dispute raises deeper concerns

The controversy is not an isolated one. In February, players and staff of Kerala Blasters FC were similarly denied entry at the same venue ahead of an ISL match over unpaid dues.

Both incidents point to persistent friction between the GCDA, which owns the stadium, and the KFA, responsible for organizing matches. Disagreements over deposits and rent—often running into ₹20 lakh or more—have repeatedly resulted in last-minute disruptions.

While authorities have assured that the March 31 clash against Hong Kong will go ahead, the episode underscores a troubling pattern: recurring administrative breakdowns that continue to undermine Indian football’s credibility on the international stage.