“Let them investigate. It will not affect us”: Pinarayi Vijayan on Messi Kerala visit row

Thiruvananthapuram: Senior CPM leader and former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday said there was no irregularity in the previous LDF government’s efforts to bring Lionel Messi and the Argentina football team to the state, and said the present UDF government was free to investigate the matter.

“Let them investigate. It will not affect us,” Vijayan said at a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram, responding to reports that the UDF government was considering a probe into the proposal.

Vijayan said the previous government had followed certain procedures in connection with the proposed visit and that former Sports Minister V Abdurahiman had already explained the details.

“I can categorically say that there was no irregularity as alleged in the matter,” he said.

The former chief minister also alleged that the controversy was being revived to divert attention from issues confronting the present government.

Vijayan said there had been widespread public interest in Messi visiting Kerala and that the government had welcomed the proposal. However, the Argentina team could not visit the state later due to reasons of its own.

He said his government had decided to provide a stadium for the proposed friendly match and had initiated the procedures required for Messi’s visit.

“The initial steps required to bring Messi to Kerala had been taken and certain understandings had been reached as part of the process,” Vijayan said.

Responding to questions about Abdurahiman’s visit to Spain and whether a separate agreement was required, Vijayan said the agreement was not with the government and that the former minister had already explained the matter.

“I am not someone who is obliged to know the entire details of Messi's visit. I know some aspects, but I don't need to know everything with regard to it. But I can say with certainty that there was no irregularity in it,” he said.

Vijayan also pointed out that Abdurahiman had said the relevant documents were in his possession and that further details could be sought from him.

The remarks came amid reports that the UDF government was likely to order a probe into alleged irregularities and procedural lapses in the previous LDF government’s efforts to bring Messi and the Argentina team to Kerala for a friendly match.

Sports Minister O J Janeesh on Wednesday rejected Abdurahiman’s defence of the proposal and indicated that an investigation could be ordered. Janeesh alleged that government machinery had been misused to facilitate financial gains for a private individual.

He also disputed Abdurahiman’s claim that the government had suffered no financial loss over the proposed event. According to Janeesh, official procedures were not followed from the outset, while there was a lack of transparency in the selection of the sponsor and handling of the proposal.

On Monday, Janeesh had confirmed that the Sports Department had submitted its inquiry report on the controversy surrounding Messi’s proposed visit. The report, prepared by the department’s Special Secretary after examining files available with it, was handed over to the government for further action.

Abdurahiman, however, rejected the allegations and maintained that the previous LDF government had followed all prescribed procedures while attempting to bring the Argentina team to Kerala.

In a detailed statement, he said the state government had not suffered even a “single rupee” in losses over the proposal. He said the agreement for the proposed match was between the Argentina Football Association (AFA) and the sponsor and did not impose any financial liability on the government.