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The Hindu
2 hours ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Lionel Messi in India — V. Abdurahiman says Argentina will visit Kerala in late 2025
Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman on Saturday asserted that Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, will visit the state as announced by the government earlier, and that the sponsor has paid the match fee for the event. He said the World Cup winner is likely to come in October or November this year, and they would be treated as state guests. The government would meet their security, accommodation and other facilities. The news would come as a fresh ray of hope for football fans in one of India's surviving football hubs. Earlier, several media reports had said that Argentina's scheduled visit was cancelled. Both Abdurahiman and the sponsor, Reporter Broadcasting Company, had strongly rejected the claims. The Minister put a brief Facebook post, saying that 'Messi will come', on Friday. The 2025 FIFA international calendar allows Argentina to play 10 matches, with four of them already played as part of the 2026 World Cup qualification campaign. Argentina's international windows in 2025: March 17-25 – 2 matches – Completed June 2-10 – 2 matches – Completed September 1-9 – 2 matches – FIFA World Cup qualifiers scheduled October 6-14 – 2 matches – Schedule yet to be decided November 10-18 – 2 matches – Schedule yet to be decided The Albiceleste plays Venezuela on September 9 and Ecuador five days later in the CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup qualifiers. They currently top the qualification group and has already qualified for the next World Cup. This leaves the next two windows open for their potential visit to India. However, their opponents are yet to be decided. Argentina camp yet to confirm Speaking to the media on Saturday, Abdurahiman confirmed that the sponsor's delay in paying the match fee had now been resolved 'The sponsor has paid the amount now. There are 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 had 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. Will India play Argentina? A match between India and Argentina is extremely unlikely for two primary reasons. Firstly, a match between Argentina, the top-ranked team in the world, and India, ranked 126th, will barely contribute to Elo rankings points for the visitors, with each match contributing 10 per cent to the team's ranking this year. Secondly, Argentina will defend the FIFA World Cup trophy in seven to eight months, depending on which window it travels to India. And that gives it a limited time to prepare. India, of all, would be an unlikely opponent to serve as a touchstone for Lionel Scaloni's men. Where will the match be played? If Argentina arrives, is likely to play at the Greenfield Stadium in Kerala's capital, Thiruvananthapuram. It is a multipurpose venue used for cricket as well as football. It hosted the 2015 SAFF Championship final and can accommodate 55,000 people, complying with FIFA's standards of a minimum of 40,000 capacity. Has Messi played in India before? Yes, Messi last played in India in September 2011, when Argentina faced Venezuela in a friendly at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium. Argentina won 1-0 in front of a packed crowd. (with inputs from PTI)
India Today
19 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
Lionel Messi coming to India? Kerala minister provides big update
Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman on Saturday, June 6, reaffirmed that the Argentina national football team, led by global icon Lionel Messi, will indeed visit the state. Kerala government had previously announced in 2024 that they are arranging a friendly game for there was not update about the game even after 6 months. The minister on Saturday, confirmed that the event's sponsor has now paid the required match fee, clearing the way for the highly anticipated to the minister, the team is expected to arrive between October and November this year. They will be treated as state guests, with the Kerala government providing for their security, accommodation, and other necessary arrangements. This announcement rekindles hope among football fans in the state, following earlier media reports that claimed Argentina had cancelled the tour due to alleged breaches of contract by the sponsor. Both Minister Abdurahiman and the sponsor, Reporter Broadcasting Company, had denied those claims, maintaining that the World Cup champions would play a friendly match in Kerala as minister reignited public excitement on Friday through a brief Facebook post stating, 'Messi will come,' and thanked the sponsor for making the event to the media on Saturday, Abdurahiman acknowledged there had been a delay in the payment of the match fee but said the issue had since been sponsor has now paid the amount. There are no remaining obstacles. As per the FIFA window, October-November is the ideal period for such international friendlies. So that timeframe is likely for us as well," he to the agreement between the sponsor and the Argentina Football Association (AFA), the team will confirm the tour and release further details in a joint statement once the payment is officially to questions, the minister clarified that the financial aspects of the deal are solely between the sponsor and AFA.'The government has no involvement in the financial dealings. The contract is entirely between the sponsor and the team management. We were informed by the sponsor that the match fee has been settled,' he friendly match is expected to be hosted at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, which meets global standards for such high-profile emphasised that the state government's main objective is to bring fresh energy to Kerala's sports sector by hosting the world champions and inspiring the Reel
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Brits eligible for spray foam removal if they live in these postcodes Spray Foam Removal Scheme Apply Now Undo 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.
News18
a day ago
- Sport
- News18
Minister Confirms Messi's Argentina Will Play In Kerala: 'No Further Obstacles'
Last Updated: Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman is confident that Lionel Messi's Argentina will visit Kerala in October or November. Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman confirmed on Saturday that the Argentina national football team, captained by Lionel Messi, will visit the state as previously announced. He confirmed the sponsor's payment of the match fee. Abdurahiman stated the team's visit is anticipated in October or November. They will be accorded state guest status, with the government providing security, accommodation, and other necessities. This reassurance comes despite earlier media reports suggesting cancellation due to contract breaches by the sponsors, keeping hopes alive for Kerala's football fans. Both Abdurahiman and the sponsor, Reporter Broadcasting Company, refuted previous reports, maintaining the world champions' commitment to a friendly match in Kerala. The Minister revived the topic with a Facebook post on Friday, stating, 'Messi will come," and expressing gratitude to the sponsor. On Saturday, Abdurahiman clarified to the media that a delay in the match fee payment had been resolved. 'The sponsor has paid the amount. There are no further obstacles. The FIFA window in October-November is typically allotted for international team events. We expect a similar allocation," he said. According to the contract between the sponsor and the Argentina Football Association (AFA), the team management will jointly announce the date and other details after the fee payment. Abdurahiman added that the sponsor had informed the government of the payment, but they await confirmation from the Argentina team management. 'The sponsors have settled the pre-match contract amount. The government has no financial involvement; the contract is strictly between the sponsor and the team management," he explained. The proposed friendly match will likely occur at the international-standard Greenfield Stadium. The minister emphasised the government's sole aim is to invigorate Kerala's sports sector by hosting the world champions. First Published: June 07, 2025, 15:35 IST
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First Post
18-05-2025
- Business
- First Post
Will Messi come to Kerala? Sports minister provides fresh update on Argentina team's visit
Lionel Messi and the Argentina football team's visit to Kerala has come under the cloud after contradicting statements coming from all corners. Kerala's Sports Minister V Abdurahiman has now issued a fresh remark regarding the tour. read more Kerala's Sports Minister V Abdurahiman has issued a fresh statement amid speculations surrounding the Argentina national football team's visit to the southern state later this year. Recently, there were reports that Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, might cancel the Kerala leg of their tour due to sponsorship issues. Government clarifies role amid uncertainty However, Abdurahiman has made it clear that the responsibility of bringing the Argentina football team to Kerala lies with the sponsors and not the state government. His statement comes amid growing uncertainty over the tour due to the sponsors' reported breach of contract with the Argentina Football Association (AFA). Speaking to Onmanorama on Saturday, Abdurahiman said, 'The government will make every arrangement if the Argentina team comes to Kerala. But I can't say anything more at this moment. As of now, we can't say that Messi and Argentina are not coming. Yes, there were some delays, but there is no confusion at the moment.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Abdurahiman explained that the Kochi-based Reporter Broadcasting Company had entered into an agreement with AFA to bring the reigning World Cup champions to Kerala. The minister said that the sponsors have promised to clear the pending payment to AFA soon, which may have caused the confusion. More from Football Abdurahiman also pointed out that the Kerala government is currently dealing with financial issues and cannot afford to host a high-profile international football team. He clarified that the state government had only helped identify two potential sponsors and submitted their details to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for approval. Change in stance fuels confusion However, this latest statement is different from what he had said earlier. A few months ago, he had announced that the Kerala government had struck a deal with AFA and that Messi and his team would spend around a week in Kerala, playing at least two friendly matches between October and November. Meanwhile, reports suggest that the Kerala Gold and Silver Merchants' Association was the main sponsor at first but they had trouble getting approvals from the RBI, so they stepped back. Then, Reporter TV became the new sponsor and reportedly got the required RBI clearance but got tangled in a payment issue with the AFA. 'The RBI rejected the first sponsor because they didn't meet the necessary criteria. After that, Reporter Broadcasting Company stepped in as the new sponsor. They have received all the required clearances from both the RBI and the Central Ministry of Sports,' the minister said. Earlier in the month, the Argentina's international friendly schedule was announced by the AFA and it did not include India, which caused a stir. If the tour goes ahead as planned, it will be the second time Messi will play international friendly in India. He first came way back in 2011 to play a friendly in Kolkata. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
