Archive · 5 Sep 2026
Report Alleges Financial Fraud in Aborted Messi Visit
A government report has raised serious questions about a planned football event in Kerala.
The event was supposed to bring Lionel Messi and Argentina’s national team to the state, but it was cancelled.
Investigators say money may have been moved across countries using rules in a questionable way.
They also say officials may have failed to require a bank guarantee from the private sponsor.
The report says officials did not properly check the sponsor’s company records or finances.
It also says officials did not calculate how much money the government could gain or lose.
The report mentions suspicious transactions connected to the Sports Kerala Foundation.
A police investigation team will now examine whether crimes were committed.
A second Sports Department report alleges multi-crore financial fraud linked to the aborted plan to bring Lionel Messi and Argentina’s national team to Kerala.
The report alleges that foreign remittances used FEMA Schedule 2 to avoid mandatory bank guarantees from the private sponsor.
Officials were accused of failing to examine Reporter Broadcasting Company’s corporate documents, finances, and payment sources.
The inquiry says potential government revenue, liabilities, and the sponsor’s ability to manage the stadium were not properly assessed.
The report will be given to a Special Investigation Team led by ADGP (Law and Order) P. Vijayan for a criminal probe.
- Who
- The Kerala Sports Department, a private sponsor identified as Reporter Broadcasting Company, Sports Kerala Foundation, and officials including ADGP (Law and Order) P. Vijayan are central to the report and investigation.
- What
- A second report alleges financial irregularities, questionable foreign transfers, corporate-rule violations, and administrative lapses linked to the aborted proposal to bring Lionel Messi and Argentina’s national team to Kerala.
- When
- The second report was submitted recently; the Kerala government has also recently constituted a Special Investigation Team.
- Where
- Kerala, India, with the report referring to cross-border financial transfers.
- Why
- The investigation was initiated to examine alleged multi-crore financial fraud and procedural failures surrounding the proposed football event.
Inquiry’s allegations
Reported official and sponsor position
Financial safeguards
Inquiry’s allegations
The report alleges that officials deliberately used a foreign-exchange mechanism to exempt the private sponsor from providing mandatory bank guarantees, leaving the state without key financial protection.
Reported official and sponsor position
The article does not provide a response from the Sports Department, the private sponsor, or other officials disputing these allegations.
Due diligence
Inquiry’s allegations
The inquiry says officials failed to examine Reporter Broadcasting Company’s corporate documents, financial health, payment sources, and liabilities before approving arrangements.
Reported official and sponsor position
No alternative explanation or defense from the concerned officials or company is included in the article.
Cross-border transactions
Inquiry’s allegations
The report describes transactions linked to Sports Kerala Foundation as suspicious and says potential criminal motives were not adequately assessed.
Reported official and sponsor position
The article does not state whether the transactions were lawful or provide a response from Sports Kerala Foundation.
- Event
- Aborted proposal to bring Lionel Messi and Argentina’s national team to Kerala
- Report
- Second report submitted by the Sports Department’s Special Secretary
- Main allegation
- Multi-crore financial fraud and administrative lapses
- Foreign-exchange issue
- Funds were allegedly transferred using Schedule 2 of the Foreign Exchange Management Act rules
- Sponsor named
- Reporter Broadcasting Company
- Safeguard allegedly omitted
- Mandatory bank guarantees were allegedly not obtained from the private sponsor
- Investigation leader
- ADGP (Law and Order) P. Vijayan