Kochi: India’s preparations for a crucial AFC Asian Cup qualifier suffered another setback after head coach Khalid Jamil and several players were denied entry into the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium due to a delay in payment of stadium dues, triggering an off-field controversy.
The incident unfolded when the Indian team arrived at the Kochi venue for a scheduled pre-match press conference ahead of their clash against Hong Kong national football team, scheduled to be played on March 31.
However, security personnel stopped Jamil along with players Ashique Kuruniyan, Sahal Abdul Samad and Bijoy Varghese at the gates, citing pending payments to the stadium authorities.
The team was unable to conduct the pre-match media interaction as the gates remained shut. Reports indicated that the stadium authorities sought a security deposit of around ₹20–25 lakh along with approximately ₹3 lakh as rent before granting access.
With payments yet to be cleared, entry was temporarily denied, forcing the coach and players to wait outside before leaving the venue.
Navas Meeran, president of the Kerala Football Association, described the situation as a “minor technical issue” and assured that the March 31 qualifier would proceed as planned.
The episode has been widely viewed as an embarrassment for Indian football, particularly as the match marks the national team’s return to Kochi after nearly a decade. Instead of focusing on preparations, attention shifted to administrative coordination between local organisers and venue authorities.
This is not the first time such a dispute has occurred at the Kochi stadium. A similar incident reportedly affected the Kerala Blasters FC earlier this year, when players and staff were also denied access due to payment disagreements. The venue is managed by the Greater Cochin Development Authority, and recurring coordination issues with organisers have raised concerns.
Despite the disruption, India are still set to face Hong Kong on March 31, but the latest episode has once again highlighted off-field challenges overshadowing the national team’s preparations.
Source: India Today
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