ISL Drama: Kerala Blasters Avoid Home Ground Crisis Just Ahead Of Mumbai City Clash

Last Updated:February 22, 2026, 08:44 IST

Kerala Blasters bag Kaloor Stadium for their game against Mumbai City after resolving a rent dispute with Greater Cochin Development Authority.

Three-time Indian Super League runners-up Kerala Blasters were on the verge of losing their home ground, but managed to bring the situation under control ahead of their match against Mumbai City on Sunday, February 22.

The Greater Cochin Development Authority, owners of the Kaloor Stadium, the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, increased the rent demanded from Kerala Blasters FC by Rs 2.2 lakh per game just two days before their scheduled match.

The Greater Cochin Development Authority demanded a balance of over Rs 22 lakh from the deposit submitted last season by Kerala Blasters as well, setting a 4 pm Saturday deadline for payment.

Several meetings were held over the past two days ahead of the cutoff, but they couldn’t produce any breakthrough.

The crisis escalated at 11:30 am on Saturday when the routine pre-match press conference was called off. Journalists, David Catala and midfielder Rowllin Borges had already gathered at the venue when security personnel entered the stadium and instructed everyone to vacate the premises.

Authorities then locked the stadium gates and shut down multiple offices that Kerala Blasters had set up in preparation for Sunday’s game. Club officials, along with representatives from the AIFF, were also asked to leave.

Later in the day, it emerged that the Greater Cochin Development Authority had permitted Kerala Blasters to stage the game as scheduled, with the club agreeing to make a total payment of Rs 28 lakh within a week.

“In the end, football is the winner. We will take to the field against Mumbai City FC tomorrow (Sunday) for our first home game of the season," the Blasters said in a statement.

As per a report in The Indian Express, the players remained unaffected by Saturday’s developments, as both teams held their training sessions at the Blasters’ facility located around 10km away from the stadium.

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