Thiruvananthapuram: A botched bid to bring Argentine football sensation Lionel Messi and his 2022 World Cup-winning team to Kerala under the watch of the previous LDF regime has turned out to be a multi-layered scandal.
Though it was a sponsor-led move, a preliminary probe held following the change of government in the state found that ‘Operation Messi’, which had the full support of the then government, took the state and its millions of football fans for a ride.
The promise of bringing Messi and his team never materialised, to the great disappointment of millions of football fans in the state.
Taking serious note of the report submitted by the Sports Department, the UDF Government has decided to go for a thorough inquiry into the alleged scam, including GST violations and other serious financial irregularities.
The government is expected to set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter. Meanwhile, the demand for a more effective probe involving the ED and CBI has also gathered momentum since the alleged scam involved possible violations of foreign exchange regulations.
In a nutshell, the controversy refers to the much-hyped attempt to bring the Argentine football team, helmed by Lionel Messi, to Kerala for an exhibition match. The idea was broached shortly after the side won the 2022 FIFA World Cup and gained traction by 2024, with the then government supporting the project.
The sponsor, a broadcasting company pivoted by a businessman who is already under the scanner for alleged shady deals, including illegal tree-felling, is alleged to have diverted a large sum on the pretext of paying the professional fee and expenses for bringing the guest team.
Neither Messi nor any member of his World Cup-winning team ever landed in Kerala, despite repeated assertions by the sponsor and the then Sports Minister that ‘Messi will come’.
It was even announced that Kochi would be the venue of the proposed exhibition match, and renovation work on the stadium in the city was taken up to bring it up to international standards.
The previous government’s role in the affair was as good as that of a guarantor. The sports administration simply overlooked the doubts flagged by officials about the way the sponsor had been unilaterally going ahead with the project.
The sponsor had allegedly breached basic financial regulations, including Goods and Services Tax (GST) compliance. So far, no proper accounts regarding the matter have been furnished before the GST authorities.
According to experts, the whole affair makes a compelling case for a high-level investigation covering the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and other relevant regulations concerning loss to the exchequer and alleged shady financial transactions involving offshore entities.
After going through the departmental report, Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan said the previous government could not shrug off responsibility in the matter. Right from the beginning, the then Sports Minister and Sports Council had extended open support to the project.
Neither the political leadership, under whose oversight the project was touted as a big-ticket sports event, nor the sponsor has so far been able to come out with a convincing explanation of what went wrong.
The LDF leadership has washed its hands of the alleged scam and evaded critical questions as to why the then government gave a free run to the sponsor and allowed the entity to enter into a purported agreement with the Argentine Football Association.
According to government sources, a thorough investigation to unearth all facts regarding the alleged scam is on the cards.
The Finance Department is already looking into the GST evasion angle and has sought an explanation from the official concerned. Reports suggest that the Enforcement Directorate is also expected to step in, widening the scope of the probe.
