Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State general secretary S. Suresh demanded the State government to hand over the investigation into the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government’s unsuccessful attempt to bring the 2022 FIFA World Cup-winning Argentina team and its captain Lionel Messi for a friendly match at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi in 2025.Addressing a press conference here on Friday (August 14, 2026), he said that UDF government should not reach a “deal” or understanding with the LDF and the Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan to settle the issue. Since details of alleged GST evasion linked to the matter has emerged, a criminal case should be registered and the accused arrested, he said. Published - August 14, 2026 07:08 pm IST