Asian Cup qualifier: Indian football team press meet blocked in Kochi stadium over unpaid deposit

Kochi, Kerala: A pre-match press conference of the India national football team ahead of the India-Hong Kong clash was called off after authorities denied entry to the squad at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kaloor.

The press meet, scheduled for 3 pm on Thursday ahead of the AFC Asian Cup qualifier between India and the Hong Kong national football team on March 31, had to be abandoned after security personnel stopped players and officials from entering the venue.

Head coach Khalid Jamil and several players, including Malayali footballers, had reached the stadium for the meet. Media personnel were also present at the venue when the incident occurred.

Officials cited non-payment of the mandatory security deposit as the reason for denying access to the stadium, forcing the team management to cancel the press conference and leave the premises.

This is not the first such incident involving the Greater Cochin Development Authority. Earlier, a press conference of Kerala Blasters FC was similarly disrupted during the current ISL season ahead of their match against Mumbai City FC.

On that occasion, then head coach David Catala and Indian player Rowllin Borges were asked to leave the media room where the press interaction was scheduled to take place.