Messi will visit Kerala as promised, match fee paid by sponsor: Sports Minister
Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman
on Saturday asserted that Argentina national football team, led by legendary player Lionel
Messi
, would surely visit the state as announced by the government earlier and the sponsor has paid the match fee for the event.
He said the foreign team is more likely to come in October-Novemver months this year and they would be treated as the state guests and their security, accomodation and other facilities would be met by the government.
The sports minister kept the hopes of soccer buffs in the state alive months after a section of the media reported that the Argentina team cancelled its scheduled visit to Kerala as the sponsors breached the contract norms.
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Both Abdurahiman and the sponsor, Reporter Broadcasting Company, had strongly rejected the reports then and reiterated that the world champions would play a friendly match in the southern state.
The Minister, who put a brief FB post on Friday saying that "Messi will come", brought the issue to the limelight again.
Live Events
He also thanked the sponsor, the Reporter Broadcasting Company, in the post.
While talking to the media on Saturday, Abdurahiman said there was some delay in the payment of the match fee by the sponsor and it is resolved now.
"The sponsor has paid the amount now. There is no other obstacles in this regard. As per the FIFA window, October-November is the time allotted for the world teams to take part in such events. So, the same time is likely to be allotted for us also," he said.
As per the contract between the sponsor and the
Argentina Football Association
(AFA), the team management would reach the state after the payment of the match fee and they would announce the date and other details through a joint statement, he said.
While replying to a question, Abdurahiman said it was the sponsor who informed the government about the payment of the match fee and they are yet to get an update from the Argentina team management in this regard.
"The sponsors said they settled the contract amount to be paid before the match. The government has no connection with any financial dealings in this regard. The contract is between the sponsor and the team management," he said.
The proposed friendly match is more likely to be held at the greenfield stadium here as it meets international standards.
The minister further said the only objective of the government is to instill fresh hopes in the state sports sector by bringing the world champions.
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