Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan said on Thursday that the government was seriously examining the matter after a preliminary report identified what he described as serious errors and GST-related issues
Former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s claim that he had little knowledge of the controversial Lionel Messi deal has come under renewed scrutiny after official records showed that his government had intervened on behalf of the private sponsor.
A key disclosure is a July 7, 2025 letter from the Kerala Sports Department Secretary to the Indian Ambassador in Argentina, seeking urgent diplomatic assistance to persuade the Argentine Football Association (AFA) to waive compensation imposed on Reporter Broadcasting Corporation (RBC) over delayed payment of its fee.
The letter warned that Argentina’s withdrawal could cause financial difficulties for the state, damage the government’s reputation and create obstacles to future fundraising. It also described the proposed Argentina visit as a “tripartite arrangement” involving the state government, the private sponsor and the AFA.
Vijayan, responding on Wednesday, maintained his characteristic stance, saying: “Let the things come out.”
The letter could become significant to the Crime Branch investigation into the deal, particularly because official diplomatic channels were allegedly used to assist a private company in resolving its dispute with the AFA.
Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan said on Thursday that the government was seriously examining the matter after a preliminary report identified what he described as serious errors and GST-related issues.
Satheesan said the agreement with the AFA had been handed to a private company without an Expression of Interest and that the state government appeared to have been kept in the dark about important aspects of the arrangement. He said the Finance Department would take steps to recover any financial loss caused to the exchequer.
The role of former Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman and his office is also expected to face scrutiny. Investigators are likely to examine alleged procedural violations surrounding the advance handover of Kaloor Stadium without the required clearances from the Finance and Law departments.
The controversy has raised questions over the previous government’s handling of the sponsor. While a show-cause notice was reportedly issued to RBC, the government was simultaneously seeking diplomatic intervention to protect the company from penalties imposed by the AFA.
As the Crime Branch probe examines the transaction, the central question is increasingly shifting from who knew about the Messi deal to who acted to protect it, and why.
