Battered from various quarters over the alleged lack of transparency in involving a private entity for the renovation of the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium ahead of the now-cancelled international friendly featuring the Lionel Messi-led Argentina team, originally scheduled for November 17, the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) issued a clarification late Monday evening.
The statement said that despite the postponement of the match, the event sponsor, Reporter Broadcasting Corporation (RBC), had assured that the renovation works would be completed by November 30, and that Indian Super League (ISL) matches would be held at the stadium in December. It further said that the GCDA would take all necessary steps to host the friendly match at the stadium if and when it is sanctioned under the FIFA window.
The statement clarified that the Director of Sports and Youth Affairs had written to the GCDA on September 24, requesting that the stadium be handed over to the Sports Kerala Foundation (SKF) for match preparations. The GCDA expressed its willingness on the same day. Accordingly, the SKF took over the stadium from the GCDA on an “as is where is” basis for the period between September 26 and November 30 and subsequently handed it over to RBC.
