Messi’s Kerala Visit Called Off Following Postponement of Argentina’s Kochi Friendly
FIFA Clearance Delay Forces Rescheduling of Messi-Led Argentina Match; New Date to Be Announced
New Delhi, Oct 25: Football superstar Lionel Messi’s highly anticipated visit to India next month has been called off following the postponement of Argentina’s friendly match in Kochi, sponsors confirmed on Saturday. The game, initially scheduled for November 17, was to be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, with Messi set to travel across Kolkata, Mumbai, and Delhi during the visit.
Anto Augustine, the sponsor of the match, announced the postponement on his Facebook page, citing delays in receiving FIFA’s necessary permissions. “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 stated.
The new date for the match will be announced during the next international window. Officials from Kerala’s Sports Department confirmed that they had not received any formal communication about the change but would coordinate with the authorities to confirm the updated schedule.
Earlier, representatives from the AFA had visited the Kochi stadium to assess the facilities ahead of the game, which was expected to feature Argentina playing a top international side. Fans across India, eagerly awaiting Messi’s return after a 14-year gap, will have to wait for the rescheduled fixtures.
