Who messed up Lionel Messi's Kerala visit?
Now, after over two years of anticipation, comes the dampener. Abdurahiman has had to confirm that Messi and Co. will not be visiting Kerala for the scheduled play in October. Later, the official sponsor claimed AFA had breached the agreement.This after AFA, according to the sponsor, having been paid Rs 130 crore as part of the deal. Abdurahiman said the Kerala government has conveyed to AFA that their offer to consider a visit early next year was unworkable.The government now finds itself facing not only embarrassment but the prospect of the Opposition trying to inflict political damage, not to mention the disappointment in the sporting fraternity and among football fans.'Football lovers in Kerala feel cheated,' says Victor Manjila, a former international goalkeeper and football coach, citing probable reasons for the tour being cancelled. 'The authorities and the sports department never realised the state had no football grounds of international standards. The Argentinian football authorities would certainly probe the condition of grounds, security of team members and remuneration package before visiting the state,' Manjila told INDIA TODAY.Abdurahiman, who is facing flak, had visited Argentina and Spain along with the state sports secretary to explore possibilities of collaboration for setting up sports centres of international standards in Kerala. At one point, he had claimed that the Messi-led team's visit to Kerala had been ensured for June 2024. Heavy rains in the state saw that visit being postponed.On August 4, Abdurahiman announced that AFA had cancelled the October 2025 tour due to prior scheduled matches, and blamed the All India Football Federation for not showing timely interest in the matter.The sponsors of the tour have revealed they paid Rs 130 crore as the advance demanded by AFA, and would exercise legal options if the contract was breached. But Leandro Petersen, the AFA's chief commercial and marketing officer, has blamed the cancellation on the Kerala government.advertisementThe Opposition has accused the Vijayan government of giving football fans a raw deal. 'Messi's tour was a publicity stunt, like many other claims of the Pinarayi Vijayan government. The sports minister too is making baseless claims. In the name of Messi, the minister and officials have enjoyed a visit abroad,' alleged the Congress's V.D. Satheesan, who is leader of the Opposition in the legislative assembly.Amidst the blame-game, it is ordinary football fans who lie crestfallen—their hopes soaring for two years, just like Messi's mesmerising shots on the football field, and finally crashing, like France's dream of winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup did—at the hands of Messi and Co.Subscribe to India Today Magazine- EndsTrending Reel
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