Archive · 11 Aug 2026
Messi-Argentina deal gets red card as CM Satheesan to decide
The Kerala government wanted to bring Lionel Messi and his football team, Argentina, to play a big match.
Many people in Kerala were very excited about this idea.
But the match never happened.
Now the government is checking what went wrong with the plan.
A special report has been prepared about it.
The report says proper rules were not followed.
For example, the right permissions from football's world body were not obtained.
The report also says the promise that Argentina would come was not supported by real documents.
A former sports minister made some of the key decisions, and the report wants his work checked.
Now the leaders will decide what to do next.
Kerala's government, led by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, is examining a Sports Department enquiry report into the failed attempt to bring Lionel Messi and the Argentina football team to the state.
The report, by Sports Department Special Secretary N. Prashanth, flagged procedural and financial irregularities, including in the selection of the sponsor and financial transactions.
It found that the assurance of an Argentina visit was not backed by authentic documents and that required clearances such as FIFA registration and All India Football Federation approval were bypassed.
Former Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman faces scrutiny, with the report recommending a detailed investigation into his official travels and email communications.
The enquiry criticised the handing over of the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium at Kaloor without clear match dates, insurance cover, or a bank guarantee.
- Who
- Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan's government in Kerala, Sports Department Special Secretary N. Prashanth, and former Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman; the proposed event centred on Lionel Messi and the Argentina football team.
- What
- An enquiry report has found procedural and financial irregularities in the failed attempt to bring Messi and Argentina to Kerala, and the government is set to decide on further action.
- When
- The report is now before the government, with action likely at the weekly Cabinet meeting on Wednesday; the proposal was pursued during the previous Left government's tenure.
- Where
- Thiruvananthapuram, where the government reviewed the report, and the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium at Kaloor in Kerala.
- Why
- To examine alleged lapses in sponsor selection, financial transparency, required clearances, and the stadium handover related to the failed event.
- Government
- Kerala, led by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan
- Enquiry report by
- Sports Department Special Secretary N. Prashanth
- Proposed event
- Visit of Lionel Messi and reigning world champions Argentina to Kerala
- Stadium
- Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, Kaloor
- Minister under scrutiny
- Former Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman
- Key lapses
- Sponsor selection, financial transparency, missing FIFA/AIFF approvals, no insurance or bank guarantee
- Recommended action
- Detailed investigation into those involved, scrutiny of former minister's travels and emails
- Next step
- Weekly Cabinet meeting on Wednesday