The Kaloor stadium in Kochi has come under controversy for involving a private firm to handle renovation works for an international football friendly that was set to feature Argentina.
| Photo Credit: H. VIBHU
The Story So Far: Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman sent the football-loving public of the State — known for its passionate support of Latin American football powerhouses Argentina and Brazil – into a frenzy when he announced in November 2024 that the World Cup champions Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, would play in Kerala in 2025. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan added further credibility with a post on X stating, “Kerala is set to make history as FIFA World Cup Champions Argentina are expected to visit next year.”
What followed was a rollercoaster ride. The proposed tour, reportedly sponsored by Reporter Broadcasting Corporation (RBC), was declared on and off multiple times between May and October this year. In September, it was announced that the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium at Kaloor in Kochi, owned by the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA), would host an international friendly match between Argentina and Australia on November 17. Hector Daniel Cabrera, venue manager of the Argentina Football Association (AFA), even visited the stadium. However, the match now stands called off after the November itinerary released by AFA and Australia Football (AF) did not include Kochi. The issue has since snowballed into a controversy, with the Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) accusing the Kerala government of being complicit in a “shady business deal” aimed at helping a private company take control of the State’s flagship international stadium.
What was the dilly-dallying about?
The initial flip-flop occurred in May when AFA’s itinerary excluded the whole of India. Mr. Abdurahiman initially placed the responsibility on RBC to explain the omission. In June, he revived public hopes with a Facebook post stating “Messi is coming,” only to retract it in August. This time, he blamed AFA, accusing it of reneging on a promise to visit Kerala in October after accepting payment.
Soon after, RBC managing director Anto Augustine held a press conference claiming that AFA had not officially declined the tour during the October-November window. He even threatened legal action against AFA for breach of contract, asserting that RBC had already paid ₹130 crore for the tour, which was to include two matches and a fan meet. In August, Mr. Abdurahiman again shifted his stance, confirming that Argentina would play in Kerala in November while sharing a screenshot of AFA’s international friendly schedule.
When did suspicions arise over Messi’s visit?
Doubts intensified in mid-October when Argentine journalist Gastón Edul, known to be close to Messi, posted on X that the India tour had fallen through. Augustine, however, maintained that the tour was still on and claimed that RBC was investing ₹70 crore to renovate the Kochi stadium to meet FIFA standards. On October 25, after AFA and Australia released their final November itineraries without mentioning Kochi, Augustine admitted the November 17 match had been called off. He attributed the cancellation to the stadium’s failure to secure FIFA approval in time but claimed that the match would be rescheduled during FIFA’s March window, for which an application had already been submitted.
What were the allegations raised by the Opposition?
Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden described the entire episode as a “shady business deal” disguised as a sporting event and questioned whether the Chief Minister and the Sports Minister were involved. He wrote to GCDA chairperson K. Chandran Pillai, raising eight specific questions about the alleged irregular allocation of the stadium to a private company for renovation. He also requested a copy of any agreement signed for the same. The UDF district leadership went a step further, demanding Mr. Pillai’s resignation.
In response, GCDA issued a clarification stating that the stadium had been handed over to the Sports Kerala Foundation (SKF) — a non-profit company under the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs — from September 26 to November 30. SKF, in turn, handed it over to RBC for renovation. Two committees comprising representatives from SKF, GCDA, and RBC were formed to approve, quantify, and monitor the renovation works. Despite a growing demand, the authorities are yet to release the reported agreement between the SKF and RBC in the public domain.
What next?
Despite RBC’s claim that renovation works will be completed and the stadium returned to GCDA by November 30, concerns persist over whether the venue will be ready in time for the Indian Super League (ISL) matches expected to begin in December. The Kochi stadium serves as the home ground for ISL team Kerala Blasters.
Questions also remain about how a public asset such as an international stadium could be handed over to a private company without following due process.
Published – October 28, 2025 03:43 pm IST
