Kochi, April 2: Kerala’s Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman has accused the Argentina football team, led by Lionel Messi, of misleading the state by failing to honor a friendly match despite significant financial commitments.
Abdurahiman stated during a press conference in Malappuram, “Finding sponsors for the required ₹250 crore for the international team was a monumental task. We negotiated thoroughly and made every effort to bring Lionel Messi and the world champions to Kerala, but our plans did not materialize, which is extremely disappointing.”
The controversy escalated when the opposition, led by the Congress party’s United Democratic Front, raised questions about the transparency of the deal. Last October, uncertainty surrounding Argentina’s tour of India took a new turn when sponsors revealed that Messi and his team would not be coming to Kerala in November.
This clarification followed an announcement from the Argentina Football Association (AFA) that the national team would only be playing in Angola during that time. The news dampened fan enthusiasm, as both the Kerala government and private sponsors had previously announced a high-profile friendly match in Kochi on November 17.
According to Argentine media, AFA officials cited Kerala’s lack of preparedness and delays in logistical arrangements as reasons for the match’s postponement.
Leaders from the opposition Congress party accused the government of announcing the event without any official notification from the AFA.
However, last November, Minister Abdurahiman dismissed such reports, asserting that Messi would play in India in March 2026.
He stated, “Two days ago, we received an email from the AFA team confirming their visit to Kerala in March.”
He also mentioned that the match at Kochi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium was initially scheduled for November but was postponed due to structural deficiencies.
Under the ‘Got Tour 2025’, Messi visited India from December 13 to 15, 2025, traveling to Kolkata, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Mumbai, but did not visit Kerala.
My name is Himanshu Tiwari. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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