Argentina’s Lionel Messi (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman has leveled serious allegations against the Argentine national football team, claiming that the side failed to honor its commitment to visit Kerala despite receiving a hefty payment.The minister expressed strong disappointment on Thursday and said considerable effort had gone into planning a potential visit by the Argentine team, including global icon Lionel Messi. He disclosed that several rounds of discussions were held to make the event happen.
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Lionel Messi India tour: The inside story of what went wrong in Kolkata “For this purpose, I held several discussions. It was also not an easy task to find sponsors to ensure the payment of Rs 250 crore to the international football team,” Abdurahiman said.He then made a direct accusation, adding: “But after receiving the money, the Argentine football team cheated us. We did not expect such a betrayal from them. It did not come after we promised.”The minister further argued that Kerala may not be the only affected party. According to him, inquiries indicated that similar situations had occurred elsewhere.“They took money from these countries but never went there to play. It’s a situation where it will be necessary to file a lawsuit against the Argentine soccer team and they will have to pay us compensation,” he said.Abdurahiman also spoke about his personal disappointment at the development and noted the excitement that had built up among fans in the state.“It has disappointed football lovers in Kerala. I don’t know who to tell my disappointment,” he added.The visit was earlier planned as a major sporting event, with the minister saying in November that Argentina and Messi were expected to arrive in Kerala in March this year. Developments are now throwing uncertainty over those plans.Amid the controversy, Abdurahiman also spoke about his political move ahead of the upcoming elections. He confirmed his decision to contest from Tirur constituency instead of Tanur, a seat he had won twice before. He claimed that the shift was not due to electoral calculations, but a desire to represent his home region, which he said required more development.Assembly elections in Kerala are scheduled to be held on April 9, adding a political dimension to an issue that has already sparked strong reactions among football fans in the state.
