Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan has alleged GST fraud and serious procedural lapses in the previous LDF government’s plan to bring Lionel Messi-led Argentina to the state for a friendly football match.
Satheesan was referring to a preliminary inquiry report submitted by the Sports Department. He said the report has raised several concerns and requires further investigation.
The inquiry reportedly questioned the process used to select the private sponsor for the proposed event. According to the report, there was no transparent Expression of Interest or tender process, while the sponsor’s financial capability and source of funds were allegedly not properly examined.
The Chief Minister also alleged that GST-related irregularities occurred in connection with foreign remittances. He said the Finance Department would examine the matter and take steps to recover any losses suffered by the state.
The report has also pointed to the absence of a formal agreement between the Argentina Football Association (AFA), the Kerala government and the private sponsor. It reportedly found that official communication regarding the event was largely handled through the Sports Minister’s office.
In 2023, then Sports Minister V Abdurahiman had announced that Kerala would partner with a private firm to host the Argentina national team, including Messi, for a friendly exhibition match at Kochi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. The event was announced as one that would not impose a financial burden on the state government. However, the proposed match never took place.
Satheesan said the state government would first examine the findings before considering whether a central agency investigation was necessary.
The former minister V Abdurahiman and the private firm involved have rejected the allegations raised in the inquiry report.
