Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman has accused Argentina football team, led by Lionel Messi, of “cheating” and alleged a scam after claiming the team failed to honour its commitment to play a friendly match in the state despite receiving full payment.
Lionel Messi in action for Argentina. (AFP)
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
Speaking to a local channel, Abdurahiman said Kerala had made extensive preparations to host the reigning World Cup champions, describing the effort as a project driven by both ambition and emotion.
“I really wanted the Argentina team and Lionel Messi to come to Kerala and play a match here. We held several discussions for that. It was not easy to find sponsors to arrange the ₹250 crore required to bring a team of that stature,” he said.
However, he alleged that despite receiving the agreed payment, the team did not follow through on its promise.
“But after receiving the money, the Argentine team cheated us. We did not expect such a betrayal from them—not coming after promising to do so,” he added.
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
{{^usCountry}}
The match was originally scheduled to be held in Kochi on November 17, with Argentina set to face Australia at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium. Representatives of the Argentina Football Association had inspected the venue in September, and the visit was part of La Albiceleste’s provisional November schedule during the FIFA international window. However, the fixture was delayed due to clearance issues and was eventually not finalised.
{{/usCountry}}
{{#usCountry}}
The match was originally scheduled to be held in Kochi on November 17, with Argentina set to face Australia at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium. Representatives of the Argentina Football Association had inspected the venue in September, and the visit was part of La Albiceleste’s provisional November schedule during the FIFA international window. However, the fixture was delayed due to clearance issues and was eventually not finalised.
{{/usCountry}}
Abdurahiman further claimed that Kerala was not an isolated case, alleging a broader pattern involving the Argentine team and demanding compensation.
“When we enquired, we found that they had done this in five other countries as well. They took money but never went there to play. It is a situation where a case will have to be filed, and they will have to pay compensation,” he said.
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
Messi did travel to India later in December, but not with the national team. The visit was part of a promotional ‘GOAT Tour’, during which he attended fan events across Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi between December 13 and 15, alongside players like Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul.
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.
Stay updated with the latest sports news, including latest headlines and updates from the Durand Cup Final Live. Catch all the action from tennis Grand Slam tournaments, follow your favourite football teams and players with the latest match results, and get the latest on international hockey tournaments and series.
Stay updated with the latest sports news, including latest headlines and updates from the Durand Cup Final Live. Catch all the action from tennis Grand Slam tournaments, follow your favourite football teams and players with the latest match results, and get the latest on international hockey tournaments and series.
Home/Sports/Football/Lionel Messi’s Argentina accused of ‘cheating’ Kerala as minister alleges scam, demands compensation
{{^htLoading}}
Advertisement
{{/htLoading}}
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
{{#usCountry}}{{/usCountry}}
Hindustantimes wants to start sending you push notifications. Click allow to subscribe
