A special investigation team (SIT) of Keralam’s finance department has reported purported tax evasion to the tune of ₹ 25.78 crore in its probe into the proposed visit of Lionel Messi and the World Cup-winning Argentine national football team to the state to play a friendly match.
“Additionally, several financial transactions took place. Were there approvals for such transactions? Was the financial stability of the private sponsor examined?
The purported tax evasion by Reporter Broadcasting Corporation, the private sponsor of the Messi visit, amounted to ₹ 25.78 crore, of which ₹ 22.68 crore was IGST not paid on foreign remittances made to the Argentine Football Association (AFA), according to officials.
The truth will soon come out,” said Janeesh. State sports minister OJ Janeesh told reporters on Thursday that it was clear that there were several procedural lapses.
The inquiry report stated that there was no confirmation from the AFA that the team would play in Keralam even when the sports department wrote to the Union government requesting for permission to hold the match in October, 2025. The failure to bring the World Cup-winning team to Keralam had resulted in the UDF and the BJP distributing posters and leaflets, blaming the former sports minister and the LDF-led government for generating false hope among football fans in the state.
