2 months ago
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The Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) has termed media reports blaming it for denying support to the Indian shot squad to clasp a property conscionable astatine the Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) International Stadium arsenic “misleading,” a connection issued by the GCDA connected Saturday (March 28, 2026) said.
The Indian team’s manager Khalid Jamil and 3 players were scheduled to code the media connected March 26 up of the India-Hong Kong planetary lucifer to beryllium held astatine the stadium connected March 31. However, the property conscionable had to beryllium called disconnected aft the GCDA withheld permission.
According to the statement, the Kerala Football Association (KFA) had applied to big the lucifer astatine the stadium. Following discussions betwixt GCDA officials, led by the Chairman, and KFA representatives, the stadium rent was fixed astatine ₹3 lakh and the information deposit astatine ₹25 lakh. The authoritative allotment bid was issued to the KFA connected March 23, 2026.
The GCDA underscored that the information deposit was captious to the upkeep of the turf and different facilities. “Normally, larger sporting events pull higher deposits, but successful this case, the GCDA fixed a lower-than-usual complaint to promote sports improvement successful Kerala and to facilitate much planetary matches successful the future,” the connection said.
On March 25, KFA informed GCDA that signifier sessions and a property conscionable would beryllium held the pursuing day. The GCDA instantly reminded the KFA that the deposit had to beryllium paid successful advance, to which the relation agreed. However, arsenic the deposit was not paid wrong the stipulated time, the GCDA said it was incapable to licence the usage of the stadium facilities for the signifier league and property meet, successful enactment with existing rules and contractual conditions.
Subsequently, connected March 27, the KFA submitted an affidavit assuring that the ₹25 lakh deposit would beryllium paid by March 30. Taking this into account, the GCDA Chairman granted support the aforesaid time for further proceedings. It was besides made wide that if the deposit was not paid by 1 p.m. connected March 30, the allotment bid and declaration would automatically basal cancelled.
“The GCDA reiterates that each its actions were strictly successful accordance with prevailing rules and contractual obligations. Reports unfairly blaming the GCDA and its Chairman bash not bespeak the factual position,” the connection added.
