State Sports Minister Calls for Probe into Messi Project Emails

The controversy over the proposed 2025 Kerala tour of Lionel Messi and Argentina’s national team has taken a new turn after an unnamed woman, Amira Aisha Begum of Malappuram, was found to be copied on official emails between former sports minister V. Abdurrahiman and the Argentine Football Association (AFA). The sports department’s secretary, who prepared a detailed report while Pinaraij Vijayan was chief minister, highlighted that the communication bypassed the department’s usual channels, leaving the secretary and director out of the loop. State sports minister O.J. Janesh described the email trail as “concealed” and demanded a full investigation. The report raises alarms about possible financial irregularities, including the alleged diversion of 126 crore rupees to a foreign sponsor and potential breaches of foreign‑exchange regulations. It also questions whether the AFA had officially consented to a friendly match in Kerala, a claim that appears to have triggered the overseas fund transfer.