India says game on after team locked out of own stadium

India's 2027 Asian Cup qualifier home to Hong Kong next week will go ahead, the national football body said, after players and coach Khalid Jamil were locked out of the stadium.

The hosts' press conference on Thursday was cancelled because the Kerala Football Association (KFA) had not paid a mandatory security deposit to the city authorities who own Kochi's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, according to local media.

Several players and the coach were denied entry for the press event, the reports said.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) said that, despite the embarrassment, the match on March 31 "will proceed as planned".

"We have full faith that the formalities will be completed by the Kerala Football Association with the local authorities," the AIFF said in a statement.

It added that "we are confident that all necessary procedures will be completed within the stipulated timeframe".

India's hopes of reaching the Asian Cup next year in Saudi Arabia are already over and the men's side are a lowly 141 in the FIFA rankings.

The AIFF recently faced criticism after the women's team were sent undersized kits at the Asian Cup earlier this month, forcing staff to get local jerseys in Australia.

India bowed out in the group stage with three defeats in three games.

They were thrashed 11-0 by eventual champions Japan.