The messy deal allegation over a Messi deal

Thiruvananthapuram: A potential controversy appears to be brewing about an aborted bid to stage a football in Kerala starring none else than Lionel Messi during the tenure of the last Left Democratic Front (LDF) ministry headed by Pinarayi Vijayan. The current furore follows a report about the alleged irregularities in the steps to get Messi in Kerala using government funds, authority and patronage.

An official state inquiry revealed there was no binding agreement with the Argentina Football Association (AFA) and no public tenders for the multi-crore deal, nor any form of competitive bidding for sponsors, while a private promoter faced scrutiny over unverified foreign remittances.

The then sports minister V Abdurahiman, who is blamed for having fallen into the trap of, or deliberately favoured a private outfit which came forward to be the sponsor of the mega event, now faces the charge of having made deals without following government norms including the usual tender process of inviting competitive bidders. The normal procedures in such a project involving a foreign football team and with it foreign exchange payments, were all allegedly bypassed apparently to favour the media entity.

The current Opposition, led by Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Pinarayi Vijayan, is stoutly denying the charges with the argument that the government did not incur any expenditure in the process and had only supported efforts by the private sponsors to bring Messi to soccer-crazy Kerala for a friendly exhibition match.

It is when allegations are flying that the Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan on Thursday said that a huge fraud was committed in the name of bringing Messi to Kerala. He said in a press conference after the cabinet meeting that the report prepared by the Special Secretary of the Sports Department states that there were serious irregularities.

"The previous government cannot shirk its responsibility in this regard. The contract was given to a private company without calling for quotations. I am studying the report. No decision has been taken. In the meantime, it is absurd to say that I am going to close a company. The news about the fraud in Messi's name is already in the air. Everyone knows it. It did not appear in any newspaper. The news has appeared in all media", said the Chief Minister.

It has been found that GST evasion took place during the previous government's tenure in the money transaction related to Messi's arrival. However, no investigation has been conducted into it. Competent agencies will conduct a preliminary investigation into the incident. A decision regarding whether more extensive assistance from central agencies is needed, will be taken based on that investigation report. The Chief Minister also said that matters regarding possible violation of the Foreign Currency Regulation Act (FCRA) will also be investigated.