The Kerala government spent Rs 13 lakh on Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman’s trip to Spain in September 2024 to invite football legend Lionel Messi, contradicting earlier claims that no public money would be used. The minister, accompanied by the Sports Department Secretary and Director of Sports and Youth Affairs, had previously stated it would not cost “even a single rupee” to invite Messi.Minister Abdurahiman recently confirmed that the Argentine national team, led by Messi, would not be visiting Kerala. The team cited travel difficulties during October, the only month the sponsor was willing to host the event.The minister had earlier announced that the team would likely visit in October or November. He stated they would be treated as state guests, with the government covering security, accommodation, and logistics.Argentina’s national team enjoys massive support in Kerala’s Malappuram and Kozhikode districts. This support intensified after Messi led Argentina to victory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.Abdurahiman, who hails from Malappuram, had been actively working to bring Messi to Kerala.Sources suggest political motivations behind these efforts, with local body elections scheduled for December and assembly elections for 140 members of the Kerala Legislative Assembly due in April-May next year.The revelation of the minister’s Spain trip expenses has drawn criticism from opposition parties. Both the Congress-led UDF and BJP-led NDA have accused the Pinarayi Vijayan government of engaging in publicity stunts and misleading the public.
