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First Post
08-05-2025
- Business
- First Post
Lionel Messi's India trip reportedly cancelled as organisers fail to raise Rs 100 crore
The Argentina football team and star footballer Lionel Messi will reportedly not come for a match to Kerala, India, in October 2025 as the organisers failed to meet the huge appearance fee demand. read more Lionel Messi and the Argentina football team's supposed visit to Kerala, India, is in doubt now as the organisers have reportedly failed to raise the required money for hosting the 2022 World Cup champions. Last November, Kerala state Minister for Sports V Abdurahiman had announced that Argentina and in 2025. At least one of the matches was to be scheduled in Kochi. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But now it has come out that the organisers have failed to raise the minimum Rs 100 crore required to arrange the matches. Rs 70 crore was reportedly needed just as the appearance fee for the Argentina team. More from Football No Messi in India in 2025 A report in the New Indian Express says that the deadline to confirm the agreement has ended with the oraganisers failing to meet the necessary financial commitments. Argentina, meanwhile, has started exploring other options. As per the report, Argentine sports journalist Gastón Edul has said that the La Albiceleste will play two matches in China and one each in Angola and Qatar. While the schedule has not been communicated officially, it appears that Argentina are already booked for October and November FIFA friendly windows. It further added that the sponsorship was initially granted to a faction of the All Kerala Gold and Silver Merchants Association (AKGSMA), which aimed to raise the required Rs 100 crore through sales on its 'Oloppo' app. Of this amount, Rs 70 crore was reportedly earmarked as the team's appearance fee. However, when the plan failed to gain traction, the state government is said to have shifted the sponsorship to Reporter Broadcasting Company Pvt Ltd, the owner of Reporter TV news channel. In March 2025, HSBC India, which partnered with the Argentina football team to promote the sport in India and Singapore, had also announced that the . The statement gave more strength to the hopes that Messi will be coming to India in 2025, but the bank is now mum on the issue. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Kerala minister Abdurahiman has also declined to comment on the issue. 'The sponsors will respond to the queries,' he told TNIE recently.
New Indian Express
08-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Albiceleste's Kerala visit set to run aground over funding
KOCHI: The much-anticipated visit of the Argentina football team, including star player Lionel Messi, to Kerala appears uncertain over failure to mobilise funds for the team's appearance fee. Reports now suggest that the Latin American football giant will instead play friendly matches in China, Angola, and Qatar in October and November this year, casting doubts on Kerala's earlier announcement. The proposal, first revealed last November by state Minister for Sports V Abdurahiman, aimed to bring the reigning world champions to play two international friendlies in the state, one of which was to be held in Kochi. However, it appears that delays in arranging finances have affected the project. Initially, the sponsorship was given to a faction of the All Kerala Gold and Silver Merchants Association (AKGSMA), which planned to raise the required funds -- around Rs 100 crore -- through sales via their 'Oloppo' app. Of this, Rs 70 crore was reported to be the appearance fee for the team alone. But when this failed to take off, the state government reportedly shifted sponsorship to the Reporter Broadcasting Company Pvt Ltd, which owns the Reporter TV news channel. Sources indicate that the deadline to confirm the agreement has passed without meeting the necessary financial commitments. This has likely led to the team exploring other venues for their international fixtures. Further speculation arose after Argentine sports journalist Gastón Edul posted on social media that the national team would be playing two matches in China and one each in Angola and Qatar. Though he mentioned that the schedule was not fully confirmed, the update suggests that Argentina's October window is likely occupied. Back in March, HSBC India, which had partnered with the Argentina football team to promote the sport in India and Singapore, had announced, through an official statement, that the team would travel to India in October 2025. This announcement reinforced public expectations in Kerala, following earlier claims by the state government that the necessary permissions from the Reserve Bank of India and the Union Sports Ministry had been secured. Despite repeated attempts, HSBC India has not responded to queries about the team's schedule. Minister Abdurahiman, when asked about the current status, declined to comment and said the sponsors would provide updates. 'The sponsors will respond to the queries,' he told TNIE recently. The official sponsors also remain unreachable.
