United democratic front

Kerala Sports Minister: 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.