Lionel Messi and the Argentina team’s visit to Kerala next month was postponed, said Anto Augustine, the sponsor of the proposed football match on Saturday. “Considering the delay in receiving FIFA’s permission, after discussions with the Argentine Football Association (AFA), it has been decided to postpone the match from the November window,” Augustine wrote on Facebook. He added that the match in Kerala will happen in the next international window with the new date set to be announced.
Messi, meanwhile, is set to come to India in December where he takes part in the GOAT tour where he will do a four-city tour, starting at Kolkata on December 12. He will then fly to Ahmedabad, followed by Mumbai and then Delhi on December where he is set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to organizer Satadru Dutta.
This isn’t the first time Messi will set foot in India with the Argentine superstar already having played here in 2011 where Argentina took on Venezuela in Kolkata’s Salt Lake stadium.
Earlier, Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman had said that Argentina’s visit to Kerala depends on FIFA’s approval. He noted that Argentina had scheduled two matches in November–one in Angola and one in Kerala.
“They are playing in Angola, but no announcement has been made about the second match,” he said. “Even though the All India Football Federation and the Asian Football Confederation recommended it, and we met FIFA’s vice-president, the approval is still pending,” he added.
The minister said all documents required for FIFA approval were submitted on Friday night.
“The match can still take place in this (planned) window if FIFA approval is received immediately. The sponsors probably meant that if it doesn’t happen now, it will be held during the next international window,” he said.
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He added that inspections at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kochi are complete.
“Currently, the stadium uses halogen lights, which take time to turn on. We have issued a tender to replace them with new lights. Fire and safety audits are done, and only FIFA approval remains pending. We hope to get it by this week,” he said.
Abdurahiman said FIFA can grant approval based on the current stadium arrangements.
“We were asked to submit some additional papers, which we have done. We expect approval at FIFA’s next meeting,” he said.
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He explained that the Thiruvananthapuram stadium was rejected due to the rough field conditions. “Though the Kochi stadium is in good shape, a few minor issues have delayed FIFA’s approval,” he said.
(With agency inputs)
