The government of Kerala has intensified its investigation into the arrangements made for the Argentina national football team's proposed 2025 visit to Kochi. The event, which was highly anticipated due to the inclusion of global football icon Lionel Messi, has become the subject of a formal inquiry following allegations of irregularities in how the previous administration handled the planning and financial aspects of the match.

State investigators are currently reviewing the contracts and logistical decisions made during the tenure of the previous sports minister. Reports indicate that the scope of the probe has expanded, and officials now intend to summon the former sports minister to provide testimony regarding his role in the event's organization. While the investigation is ongoing, the primary focus remains on determining whether public funds were mismanaged or if established government protocols were bypassed during the bidding and negotiation process for the high-profile exhibition match. No formal charges have been filed against any individual at this stage, and the former minister has not yet issued a public statement regarding the specific allegations being investigated by the current administration.