The minister was accompanied by Sports activities Division Secretary and Director of Sports activities and Youth affairs had mentioned that it will “not price a single rupee” to ask Messi to Kerala.
Nevertheless, Aburahiman just lately confirmed that the soccer legend and the Argentinian staff won't be visiting Kerala. The staff had difficulties to journey to India in October, the one month the sponsors of the provided to host the occasion in.
The minister had earlier mentioned that Messi and the staff would go to Kerala in October or November, including that they might be handled as state friends with the federal government taking good care of safety, lodging and logistics.
Argentinian nationwide staff has an enormous fan following in Malappuram and Kozhikode districts. It solely grew stronger when the staff, led by Messi, received the World Cup in 2022.
Abdurahiman himself hails from Malappuram and had been actively working to deliver Messi to the state. TOI sources counsel that there have been political motivations behind the transfer with native physique elections scheduled for December and meeting elections in April-Could subsequent yr.
Messi not visiting Kerala takes a political flip
The problem has taken a political flip, with opposition Congress on Saturday urging the Kerala authorities to make clear its stance on the reported allegation of the Argentine Soccer Affiliation (AFA) that the world champion staff's go to to the state was cancelled due to the federal government's violation of contract norms.
KPCC Chief Sunny Joseph and Congress Lok Sabha MP Shafi Parambil took a dig on the Left authorities within the state, saying the “Lionel Messi is lacking”. They sought a solution from the authorities.
“The state authorities ought to give a reply on this regard as a result of they're being accused within the matter. Lakhs of rupees have already been spent. Now, the AFA itself has made issues clear. The individuals of the state ought to know the details,” he advised reporters right here.
Sharing related views, Parambil accused the CPI (M)-led authorities of misusing the soccer admirers' love for Messi and Argentina.
“The try of the state authorities was to get the credit score for bringing the Argentine soccer staff. They cheated the individuals. Now, the AFA itself has made it clear that the state authorities has violated the contract,” he mentioned.
It's the Pinarayi Vijayan authorities that ought to clarify issues and make clear their stand within the situation, the MP mentioned including that the authorities mustn't have “politically misused” the soccer followers' love and admiration in direction of Messi and Argentina staff.
(With TOI and company inputs)
