3 months ago
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The Indian Super League (ISL) team, Kerala Blasters Football Club (KBFC), was denied support to clasp its customary pre-match property league astatine the media country of the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium (JNIS), its location ground, present up of the play opener against Mumbai FC connected Sunday (February 22, 2026).
The denial was the latest occurrence of the prevailing uncertainty implicit the stadium rent payable by KBFC to the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA), which owns the stadium. Barely 10 minutes earlier the scheduled property conscionable astatine 11.30 a.m connected Saturday (February, information unit walked successful and asked KBFC officials and journalists to vacate the media room, citing instructions “from the top.” Head manager David Catala and subordinate Rowllin Borges, who were slated to code the media, were spared the embarrassment of being unceremoniously ushered retired arsenic they were inspecting the turf astatine the time. They aboriginal code the media online.
GCDA sources said support was withheld arsenic the stadium rent had not yet been remitted. “As soon arsenic the squad makes the payment, the stadium and related facilities volition beryllium opened to them,” they said.
Although GCDA had earlier assured a heavy discounted rent of ₹2 lakh (plus GST) connected compassionate grounds, successful presumption of the fiscal strain faced by ISL and its franchises, the authorization reversed its determination astir astatine the eleventh hr and demanded ₹4.20 lakh (plus GST). GCDA Chairman K. Chandran Pillai had said that the authorization would complaint KBFC lone ₹2 lakh per match, compared to ₹8.40 lakh past season, astatine the petition of the All India Football Federation. “But this is strictly a one-time arrangement,” helium told a property league connected February 11.
The last-minute flip-flop has near KBFC grappling with a logistical nightmare up of its opening fixture. The squad was primitively scheduled to play 9 matches astatine the stadium during this season.
“While we had offered a heavy discounted rent, we were compelled to revisit the determination aft the GCDA enforcement committee opposed it, citing the important attraction costs of the upgraded facilities astatine the stadium. The upkeep of the recently laid turf unsocial costs astir ₹50 lakh annually. KBFC has submitted a written entreaty seeking a simplification successful rent. Discussions are underway,” GCDA sources added.
A backstage sponsor had precocious renovated the stadium for a highly publicised planetary affable lucifer featuring the Argentina nationalist squad led by Lionel Messi. The lucifer primitively scheduled for November 25, 2025, had since been deferred.
