Thiruvananthapuram: More documents have surfaced in connection with the alleged fraud involving Lionel Messi’s visit, putting former Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman on the defensive. An email sent by Abdurahiman directly advocating for the sponsor has come to light. The email, sent to the Argentine Football Association (AFA) on October 18, 2025, shows a harsh reaction against AFA for canceling the contract. It also contains an admission that the government bears liability in the matter. The email states that the deal between AFA and RBC was not merely a commercial agreement but a guarantee backed by government initiative. It further mentions that 130 crore people trusted the Kerala government and that the faith of an entire nation rested on the contract. The minister also expressed strong protest over AFA ignoring Kerala’s assurances.
Meanwhile, a high-level probe is set to be initiated into the alleged irregularities regarding Messi’s visit. The government has decided to investigate the corruption and procedural violations involved in the case. More details from the report prepared by the Sports Department Special Secretary are now emerging. The report highlights that the project had a bizarre structure and was designed to generate profits for a private company by misusing government machinery.
The report notes that there are no official orders explaining why the Reporter company was selected as the sponsor. The Special Secretary of the Sports Department stated in the report that the project essentially facilitated foreign exchange transactions. The report will be discussed during tomorrow’s Cabinet meeting.
For more details: Navamalayalam.com