Messi & Co's Kerala visit turning into a messy affair

All is well, says sports min amid sponsor chaos

- MANISHA V C S @Kochi

OFF-AGAIN, on-again! The proposed visit of the Lionel Messi-led Argentina football team to Kerala is turning into a messy affair.

Despite the state government's announcement last year -- and later silence -- that the world champions would play multiple friendlies in Kerala, the plan is now shrouded in uncertainty. And, the government, organisers and sponsors are now contradicting each other.

Earlier in the month, after Argentina's international friendly schedule was published, which did not mention India, Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman shifted the onus on sponsors, claiming he had nothing to say. TNIE had reported that the inability to mobilise funds for appearance fee -- amounting to ₹70 crore -- has cast doubts on the team's Kerala leg of friendlies.