Thiruvananthapuram: The company that reportedly handled payments from sponsors for bringing Argentine football legend Lionel Messi to Kerala is also facing scrutiny, with the US-based company reportedly under investigation by the FBI. 

Tour Prod Enter, which was entrusted with collecting funds from sponsors RBC (Reporter Broadcasting Corporation) and the Argentine Football Association (AFA), is reportedly facing an FBI investigation.

A key question that has emerged during the Kerala Sports Department's preliminary examination of the proposed Messi event is whether any money laundering took place. It was while examining the financial aspects of the project that information surfaced about similar allegations involving Tour Prod Enter, the collection agent.

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The company reportedly came under investigation in the US over alleged illegal financial transactions. Despite this background, the government is alleged to have granted permission for the financial transactions without examining the company's history.

Tour Prod Enter was authorised by the Argentine Football Association to collect money from RBC.

The company is currently under FBI investigation over suspected money laundering involving $300 million, according to the report. Tour Prod Enter is also said to have handled financial transactions linked to Argentina following its 2022 FIFA World Cup victory.

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The FBI reportedly suspects that the company later transferred millions of dollars through certain US banks to shell companies in alleged illicit transactions. The investigation is also believed to have continued during the World Cup held in the US.

According to the report, Rs 126 crore was transferred by RBC to AFA through Tour Prod Enter.