Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 11 (IANS) The Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan government is set to take a closer look at the alleged procedural and financial irregularities surrounding the previous Left government’s failed attempt to bring Lionel Messi and the Argentina football team to Kerala, with the Sports Department’s enquiry report now before it.
Further action is likely to come up at the weekly Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
The report, prepared by Sports Department Special Secretary N. Prashanth, has flagged a series of serious lapses in the manner in which the proposed Argentina visit was pursued, including the selection of the sponsor, financial transactions and the handing over of the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium at Kaloor.
The report has found that established government procedures were not followed while selecting the sponsor and that the government machinery was allegedly used to facilitate the interests of the company involved.
It has also questioned the transparency of the financial transactions connected with the proposed event.
More significantly, the enquiry found that the assurance that the Argentina team would come to Kerala was not backed by authentic documents.
The process, according to the report, was pushed through at considerable speed by bypassing established procedures.
For an international match involving the Argentina team to be held in Kerala, FIFA registration and other mandatory clearances, including approval from the All India Football Federation, would have been required.
The report points out that the process moved ahead without such approvals.
It has also flagged possible violations relating to international agreements.
The role of former Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman has come under particular scrutiny.
The report states that key decisions were taken by the former minister and that prescribed procedures were not followed.
It also says correspondence relating to the proposed event was handled directly by him.
The enquiry has recommended a detailed investigation into those involved and has called for scrutiny of the former minister’s official travels and email communications connected with the episode.
The handing over of the Kaloor stadium has also come under criticism.
The report states that the authorities were not given a clear indication of when the proposed match would actually be held.
There was no FIFA match registration or approval from the Law and Finance departments, it says.
The stadium was allegedly handed over without basic financial safeguards such as insurance cover or a bank guarantee.
The controversy stems from the highly publicised proposal to bring Messi and the reigning world champions Argentina to Kerala, which had generated enormous public excitement before the proposed event failed to materialise.
–IANS
sg/rad