Thiruvananthapuram, August 11, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Kerala government is set to examine alleged procedural and financial irregularities surrounding the previous Left Democratic Front government’s failed attempt to bring Lionel Messi and the Argentina football team to the state, with an inquiry report now submitted to the government.
Further action is expected to be considered at the weekly Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
The inquiry report, prepared by Sports Department Special Secretary N. Prashanth, has flagged several alleged lapses in the handling of the proposed Argentina visit, including the selection of the sponsor, financial transactions and the handing over of the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium at Kaloor.
According to the report, established government procedures were not followed while selecting the sponsor and government machinery was allegedly used to facilitate the interests of the company involved. It has also questioned the transparency of financial transactions linked to the proposed event.
A key finding of the inquiry is that the assurance that the Argentina team would visit Kerala was not supported by authentic documents. The report said the process was pursued rapidly while bypassing established procedures.
It noted that an international match involving Argentina in Kerala would have required FIFA registration and mandatory clearances, including approval from the All India Football Federation (AIFF). The report found that the process proceeded without these approvals and also flagged possible violations relating to international agreements.
The role of former Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman has come under particular scrutiny. The report said important decisions were taken by the former minister without following prescribed procedures and that correspondence concerning the proposed event was handled directly by him.
The inquiry has recommended a detailed investigation into those involved. It has also called for scrutiny of the former minister’s official travel records and email communications related to the episode.
The handing over of the Kaloor stadium has also been questioned. The report said the authorities did not have a clear indication of when the proposed match would actually take place. It noted that there was neither FIFA match registration nor approval from the Law and Finance departments.
The stadium was allegedly handed over without basic financial safeguards, including insurance coverage and a bank guarantee, according to the report.
The controversy relates to the widely publicised proposal to bring Messi and the reigning world champions Argentina to Kerala. The proposed visit had generated considerable excitement among football fans in the state before the event failed to materialise.
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