MFA Challenges Bandra Football Ground Conversion

The Mumbai Football Association (MFA) has approached the Bombay High Court to challenge a proposal to convert Bandra’s Neville D’Souza Football Ground into an exhibition and convention centre. The proposal, which was recommended by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) Improvements Committee in May 2026, seeks to alter the land reservation of the ground from a playground and open space to a convention or exhibition centre.

The MFA has argued that the move would destroy one of Mumbai’s most important football venues, which is equipped with FIFA-standard artificial turf and seating for around 5,000 spectators. The ground hosts over 900 official matches every season and is used by nearly 400 youth clubs, 300 senior teams, and more than 10,000 players across Mumbai.

The association has also sought an urgent hearing, as the proposal is expected to be placed before the BMC’s civic house on August 10. It has requested interim relief restraining authorities from changing the ground’s character, removing sports infrastructure, or taking any steps towards construction or allotment.

According to the petition, the MFA has maintained and managed the ground for over 15 years under permissions granted by the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA). The association has said that its application seeking continuation of the permission, submitted on July 31, 2025, is still pending.

The MFA has described the ground as the backbone of Mumbai’s football ecosystem and argued that the loss of the physical facility would disrupt the clubs, coaches, leagues, players, and community programmes which depend upon it. The association has also questioned the land use change, arguing that the sanctioned Revised Development Plan 2034 designates the land as a playground and open space.

The petition has further contended that authorities failed to conduct any sports impact assessment, user survey, feasibility study, or alternative-site analysis before proposing the change. The MFA has also disputed the claim that there is a shortage of convention facilities in the area, pointing to existing venues such as the Jio World Convention Centre, St. Andrew’s Auditorium, and the MMRDA Exhibition Grounds.

The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) has defended the original reservation of the land, but the MFA has argued that the proposal was initiated without notice, consultation, or a hearing despite the association being the authorised user of the ground.

The Bombay High Court is expected to hear the plea against the BMC proposal to convert the Neville D’Souza Football Ground into an exhibition centre. The outcome of the case will have significant implications for the future of football in Mumbai.

The conversion of the football ground into a convention centre would not only affect the football community but also the local residents who use the ground for recreational purposes. The MFA has argued that the ground is an existing, functioning, and intensively used public sporting amenity with established football infrastructure.

In conclusion, the MFA’s challenge to the proposal to convert the Neville D’Souza Football Ground into a convention centre is a significant development in the world of Mumbai football. The outcome of the case will determine the future of one of Mumbai’s most important football venues and will have a significant impact on the football community in the city.