Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman found himself at the center of controversy after losing his composure when confronted by reporters about Lionel Messi’s postponed visit to Kochi. The minister’s outburst occurred amid growing political tension and public curiosity surrounding the cancelled Argentina football match and alleged irregularities in the renovation of Kochi’s Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium. Cameras captured the visibly agitated minister whispering something into the ear of a Malayalam television reporter before abruptly pushing aside microphones and cameras. CPI(M) MLA A.C. Moideen, who accompanied him at the time, was also seen instructing media personnel to switch off their recording devices.
The controversy stemmed from an earlier announcement by the Kerala Sports Department and the event’s sponsors that Argentina, captained by Lionel Messi, would play a friendly match in Kochi on November 17. The match was to be a landmark sporting event for the state, drawing massive anticipation among football fans. However, the event’s sponsor, Anto Augustine, later declared that the game had been postponed due to delays in receiving approval from FIFA. He clarified that the match would now be rescheduled during FIFA’s next international window once all necessary clearances are obtained.
Minister Abdurahiman has consistently maintained that the postponement was solely due to FIFA’s pending approval process. He has accused certain individuals from Kerala of sending misleading communications to FIFA, which, he claims, led to the delay in the international body’s decision. His explanation, however, has done little to calm the growing criticism from the opposition, which continues to allege financial and procedural irregularities in the stadium’s renovation work that had begun in preparation for the high-profile match.
Congress MP Hibi Eden has been particularly vocal in raising concerns over the renovation project. He alleged that the Kerala government had engaged in “shady dealings” related to the stadium’s refurbishment. Eden pointed out that trees were cut down and construction activities were carried out in violation of environmental and procedural norms. He further questioned whether the Sports Kerala Foundation — the agency that entered into an agreement with the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) for the renovation — possessed the necessary technical expertise and infrastructure to handle such a large-scale project effectively.
Eden also demanded that the government provide a clear plan for the future use of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. He noted that, at present, no major cricket or Indian Super League (ISL) fixtures are scheduled to take place at the venue, leaving its purpose uncertain. “We remained silent earlier because the excitement around Messi’s visit was immense. But now that the match has been postponed indefinitely, the government and GCDA owe the people an explanation about what lies ahead for the stadium,” he asserted.
The incident has since intensified the political debate in Kerala, blending sports enthusiasm with questions of governance, accountability, and transparency. What began as an eagerly awaited global sporting event has now turned into a flashpoint for political sparring, public frustration, and scrutiny over how the state handles large-scale sporting infrastructure projects.
