The proposed Kochi visit of footballer Lionel Messi was used as a ruse for a massive black money operation with the connivance of the Pinarayi Vijayan government, Ernakulam District Congress Committee president Mohammed Shiyas, MLA, has alleged.

Addressing the media here on Tuesday, he said this was done by fooling sports enthusiasts and the public. He reminded that when he and other Congress leaders highlighted the illegal construction at the stadium, the police under the previous LDF government filed non-bailable cases against them.

The sponsor and others had tried to take over the stadium in Messi’s name. “Who the sponsor is, and who stands behind him, will come out in the coming days,” Mr. Shiyas said.

He also called for scrutiny of the financial dealings of then Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman. Mr. Shiyas further claimed that the narrative of Messi’s visit was fabricated to loot Kerala’s public assets and launder black money. He said the sponsor who promised Messi’s arrival has now disappeared, and that the clandestine deal was conducted without the knowledge of the All India Football Federation or the Kerala Football Association.

He insisted that both the illegal construction at the Kaloor stadium and the black money transaction carried out in Messi’s name must be subjected to thorough investigation.

Published - August 11, 2026 10:00 pm IST