Lionel Messi, Argentina team scam allegations: V Abdurahiman rejects charges

MALAPPURAM: Former sports minister V Abdurahiman has rejected allegations of the multi-crore scam linked to the proposed visit of the Argentina football team to Kerala, saying all government-level procedures were followed in efforts to organise the match in the state. He said the state government did not lose even a single penny in connection with the matter. Abdurahiman issued the response in a press release.

He said reports being circulated by certain quarters regarding the steps taken by the previous LDF government to bring the Argentina team to Kerala were factually incorrect. He alleged that the claim that the sponsor was granted rights over the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kaloor in exchange for its renovation was highly malicious.

The agreement to organise the match was signed between the Argentina Football Association (AFA) and the sponsor, Abdurahiman said. The government had no liability in connection with the agreement, he added.
He said the effort to bring the Argentina team to Kerala was initiated after obtaining permission from the Union sports and finance ministries. The sponsors had also obtained permission from the Reserve Bank of India to make the payment, he said. The sponsor made the payment to the AFA through a public sector bank, according to Abdurahiman. He said the Union ministries would grant such permissions only on the basis of an application from the state sports department secretary.
Therefore, the claim that the sports department was unaware of the proceedings was “a blatant lie”, he said.

Abdurahiman also accused the present government of making factually incorrect allegations against the previous government to conceal what he described as its embarrassment over its failure to address issues including the monsoon-related damage within three months of assuming office, as well as its alleged facilitation of the Sangh Parivar's agenda.
He said the issue involving Lionel Messi was chosen because it was likely to attract greater public attention. He added that he had already responded to all the allegations when they were raised earlier.
Abdurahiman said the public would reject what he described as baseless allegations being raised as part of a “deliberate agenda” against the Left.