Kerala Sports Minister O.J. Janeesh on Wednesday, 12 August signalled that the controversial Messi episode — the failed project centred on footballer Lionel Messi's proposed visit to Kerala — is far from over, with fresh documents raising new questions about sponsor selection and the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government's role in the agreement. The matter is set to come under sharper scrutiny at Thursday's Cabinet meeting.

Minister's Warning: More to Come

'There are a lot of things that have to come out,' Janeesh told reporters, making clear the current government was not inclined to close the controversy. He pointed specifically to the lack of transparency in how a private company came to be associated with a project built around Messi's visit, raising questions about the sponsor selection process.

Former Minister's Email Adds a New Dimension

The controversy has taken a fresh turn with the emergence of an email sent by former Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman to the AFA (Argentine Football Association) on 18 October 2025, in which he strongly defended the sponsor and protested the cancellation of the agreement. Abdurahiman argued that the AFA-RBC arrangement was not a routine commercial contract but carried the weight of a government-backed assurance.

'AFA-RBC is not merely a commercial agreement. It is an assurance given at the initiative of the government. 1.3 billion people trusted the Kerala government,' Abdurahiman wrote in the communication. The email has brought into sharp focus the extent to which the previous government had committed itself to the deal, even as the very structure of the project is now being questioned.

Special Secretary Report Flags Structural Concerns

A report by the Sports Department's Special Secretary, submitted to the V.D. Satheesan government on Tuesday, has added to mounting concerns. According to reports, the document describes the project as having an unusual structure that allegedly enabled a private company to profit by using government machinery. The report also notes the absence of clear government orders explaining the selection of a TV news channel as a stakeholder, and suggests the project ultimately amounted to ₹126 crore, involving a foreign-exchange transaction.

Cabinet to Decide on High-Level Inquiry

The Kerala Cabinet meeting on Thursday is expected to examine the Special Secretary's findings and decide the way forward. In all likelihood, the Cabinet will greenlight a high-level inquiry into alleged corruption and violations of rules. The probe, if ordered, would look at how the Messi project was conceived, approved, and executed — and why it ultimately failed to materialise. This comes amid growing political pressure on the previous LDF administration to explain its decisions around the agreement.