Political controversy intensifies over Argentina football team’s visit to Kerala

Political controversy is intensifying in Kerala after the Argentine Football Association (AFA) has reportedly accused the state government of failing to uphold an agreement regarding the planned visit of Lionel Messi and the Argentina national football team to the state
Congress on Saturday urged the Kerala government to clarify its stance on the reported allegation of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) that the world champion team’s visit to the state was cancelled because of the government’s violation of contract norms.

Mocking that Messi is missing, KPCC president Sunny Joseph on Saturday demanded an explanation from the sports minister as the AFA has accused the state government in the matter.

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“The sports minister should give a reply in this regard because the state government is being accused in the matter. Lakhs of rupees have already been spent. The people of the state should know the facts,” Sunny Joseph told media persons here.

Congress MP Shafi Parambil said on Saturday that the Pinarayi Vijayan government should explain things and clarify their stand in the issue.
“The Argentine Football Federation says that the Kerala government violated the contract. If that is true, it is a serious revelation. The government should answer in this regard. The government should answer for the money spent. Or the money should be returned to the treasury, “ Shafi Parambil said and added that the authorities should not have politically misused the football fans love and admiration towards Messi and Argentina team.

AFA Marketing Head Leandro Peterson reportedly said that the breach of contract in bringing the Argentine team to Kerala was on the part of the state government.Leandro Petersen shifted responsibility to the state authorities after confirmation that the World Cup-winning team would not travel to Kerala this year to play two friendly matches, despite repeated assurances from Sports Minister V Abdurahiman.
Responding to claims that AFA had agreed to send the team to Kerala in October 2025, Petersen told a media,“Not true, no way. The party that failed to honour the agreement was the Kerala government. It breached the contract.” He declined to elaborate on how the state or its partners allegedly violated the deal.

Meanwhile, Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman has denied the allegations by Leandro Petersen, Marketing Head of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), regarding the reported cancellation of the Argentina national football team’s visit to the state.

Denying any breach of contract by the Kerala government in the matter, sports minister Abdurahiman said no official deal was signed between the government and the AFA. He clarified that all arrangements were made directly by the sponsors.

“The state government has not signed an agreement with anyone. The sponsors signed the agreement with the Argentine team. No money was paid by Kerala. The media talks about a breach of agreement, but that contract is with the sponsors, not Kerala,” said Minister Abdurahiman.

He questioned how contract details became public, noting the agreement prohibits disclosure. “If he revealed it, that is the biggest breach of the agreement. How can he claim Kerala violated it? He said

Abdurahiman added that Petersen is not the signatory; the contract was signed by the AFA president with the sponsors

In this connection,the sponsors said Rs 130 crore was paid to the Argentina Football Association (AFA) to bring the Argentinian national football team, including Lionel Messi, to Kerala.Anto Augustine, Managing Director of Reporter TV Broadcasting Corporation, said that the company paid Rs 130 crore to the Argentina Football Association (AFA) to bring the Argentinian national football team, including Lionel Messi, to Kerala. “If the AFA fails to honour the agreement after receiving the payment, it would constitute a breach of contract, which could lead to legal action,“ he said