Kochi: With Lionel Messi and the Argentina football team now confirmed not to visit India in November, the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) has called an emergency executive meeting on Wednesday morning amid the controversy surrounding Kaloor Stadium.

Earlier, a letter from Sports Minister V Abdurahiman to the GCDA requested that the stadium be handed over. Acting on this directive, the stadium was transferred to the Sports Kerala Foundation, which was appointed by the government as the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to organise Argentina’s friendly match. The Foundation reportedly permitted sponsors to undertake renovation activities. Several sections of the stadium were demolished for renovation. Seats were removed and replaced, floodlights were being upgraded, and trees outside the stadium were cut down.

Now that Argentina’s visit this year has been ruled out, questions are mounting over the purpose of the ongoing works. Sponsors have promised to bring the team in March, but if the match does not materialise, the future of the partially dismantled stadium remains uncertain.

Handover and conditions

According to GCDA Chairman K Chandran Pillai, the stadium was handed over to the Sports Kerala Foundation on September 26 and is to remain under its control until November 30. The Sports Kerala Foundation, functioning under the full control of the Sports Department, was granted the stadium to carry out renovation work. However, the terms of their agreement have not been made public. It remains unclear whether a formal agreement with specific terms and conditions was signed when the stadium was handed over. The GCDA is yet to issue an official clarification, and reports suggest even its members are uncertain about the details.

With construction work still incomplete, concerns are being raised about what will happen to the venue once the handover period ends.

The upcoming GCDA executive meeting is expected to discuss the entire issue, including the decision to hand over the stadium and the ongoing renovation works.