1 month ago
1
Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman connected Thursday (April 2, 2026) said that the Argentina shot squad allegedly deceived the State by not coming to play a match adjacent aft receiving wealth for it.
Mr. Abdurahiman said that helium had “really wanted” the Argentina shot squad and Lionel Messi to travel to Kerala and play a lucifer successful the State.
"For that, I had held respective discussions. It was besides not an casual task to find sponsors to put the ₹250 crore to beryllium paid to the planetary shot team. But, aft receiving the money, the Argentine shot squad cheated us. We did not expect specified a betrayal from them. Not coming aft promising to bash so," the Minister told a TV channel
He said that erstwhile helium enquired, helium recovered retired that “Argentina had done this to 5 different countries.”
"They took wealth from those countries, but ne'er went determination to play. It is simply a concern wherever a lawsuit volition person to beryllium filed against the Argentine shot team, and they volition person to wage america compensation," Mr. Abdurahiman said.
"It has disappointed the shot lovers successful Kerala. I don't cognize to whom I volition archer my disappointment," helium said.
The Minister successful November 2025 had said the Argentina shot squad and Lionel Messi would travel to Kerala successful March this year.
On canvass candidacy
Regarding his determination to contention from Tirur Assembly constituency, alternatively of Tanur, from wherever helium had won twice, the Minister said his determination was “not motivated by a hunt for a winnable seat.”
He said that helium came to Tirur arsenic it was his autochthonal place, wherever determination was a deficiency of development, and determination were galore complaints from the radical regarding it. At the aforesaid time, helium asserted that his lack from Tanur volition not effect successful nonaccomplishment of that seat.
