Anto warned that Reporter Broadcasting would face massive financial losses if the agreement is cancelled and hinted at legal action. "We’re doing this out of love for Argentina. But cheating fans after taking the money is unacceptable," he said.
Published Aug 05, 2025 | 7:24 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 05, 2025 | 7:24 PM
Reporter Broadcasting accuses AFA of breach. (Supplied)
Synopsis: The planned visit of Argentina’s World Cup-winning football team, including Lionel Messi, to Kerala is in doubt after Reporter Broadcasting alleged a ₹130 crore contract breach by the AFA. While the agreement was for a 2025 match, AFA reportedly seeks a delay. Kerala’s Sports Minister cited scheduling conflicts and sponsor disagreements as reasons for the uncertainty.
The much-anticipated visit of Argentina’s World Cup-winning football team, including superstar Lionel Messi, to Kerala is now mired in uncertainty, with Reporter Broadcasting MD Anto Agustin alleging a breach of contract by the Argentine Football Association (AFA).
At a press conference in Kochi on Tuesday, 5 August, Agustin said Reporter Broadcasting had paid ₹130 crore to the AFA on 6 June from their SBI account, after securing all necessary approvals.
He insisted the agreement clearly stated that the team, including Messi, would play in Kerala in 2025, and not after the next World Cup. “We’re not interested in hosting them next year. This was meant to be a post-World Cup celebration with the 2022 champions,” he said.
Despite having received written confirmation from the AFA acknowledging the funds, Agustin alleged the association is now trying to delay the match to September next year and pushing for a new agreement. He added that the contract includes a non-disclosure clause, preventing them from releasing its contents.
Anto warned that Reporter Broadcasting would face massive financial losses if the agreement is cancelled and hinted at legal action. “We’re doing this out of love for Argentina. But cheating fans after taking the money is unacceptable,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman recently claimed the AFA had informed the state that the Argentine team wouldn’t visit Kerala this year. He also noted discrepancies between the positions taken by the sponsors and the AFA.
According to the minister, the cancellation is due to a conflict between the team’s schedule and the demands of its sponsors. While the team has prior commitments, the sponsors were only willing to support the trip if it happened in October.
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Dileep V Kumar)
