Kochi, April 2 (IANS) Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman on Thursday alleged that the Lionel Messi-led Argentina national football team misled the state by failing to honour a proposed friendly match despite substantial financial commitments.

‘We held extensive discussions and made every effort to bring Lionel Messi and the world champions to Kerala. It was a massive undertaking to secure sponsors for the Rs 250 crore required for the international team,” Abdurahiman told reporters in Malappuram, expressing disappointment over the collapse of the plan.

The entire episode had sparked a major controversy as the opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) then questioned the lack of transparency in the deal. In October last year, uncertainty around Argentina’s much-publicised visit to India took a fresh turn when sponsors confirmed that Messi and his team would not visit Kerala in November.

The clarification followed an announcement by the Argentine Football Association (AFA) that the national side would play only in Angola during that period. The development dampened weeks of excitement among fans, with both the Kerala government and private sponsors having earlier announced a high-profile friendly in Kochi on November 17.

According to Argentine media reports, AFA officials attributed the cancellation to Kerala’s “lack of readiness” and delays in completing logistical arrangements within the agreed timeline. A political row also erupted, with Congress leaders accusing the state government of prematurely announcing the event without formal confirmation from the AFA.

However, in November last year, minister Abdurahiman rejected such reports and maintained that Messi would play in India in March 2026.

“Two days ago, we received an email from the AFA team confirming their visit to Kerala in March,” he had said then, adding that the match, originally scheduled for November, was postponed due to infrastructural issues at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi.

His assertion had then drawn scepticism, with critics pointing to the earlier unfulfilled promise of Messi’s visit.

However, the developments in Kerala stood in contrast to the “Messi GOAT Tour 2025” scheduled for December last year, which included confirmed appearances in Kolkata and Mumbai. Unlike the stalled Kochi fixture, the tour featured a major event at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium along with fan engagements in Mumbai, marking the Argentine legend’s return to these cities after his 2011 visit.

— IANS

snj/bc