LDF govt breached rules in Messi event sponsor selection: Janeesh

Thrissur: Sports minister O J Janeesh on Friday said that the previous LDF govt breached established official procedures in selecting sponsors for the aborted programme to bring Lionel Messi and Argentina football team to Kochi.Janeesh alleged that files now available with govt indicate that several decisions related to the programme were driven by political and personal commercial interests.He alleged that no proper evaluation was conducted in selecting the sponsor. “It was unclear what criteria were used for the selection and whether any assessment was carried out to determine the sponsor’s competence or previous experience in conducting an international event. Similarly, no effort was made to ascertain whether other groups were willing to take up the sponsorship,” Janeesh said.Barring a note from the then minister’s private secretary, department officials received no other communication about the programme for two years, right from the initial stage of the proposal, he alleged. “We understand that there was severe pressure on the officials then. They defied the pressure on some occasions. There was a total breach of procedures,” he said.Janeesh denied reports that the current controversies over the programme were raked up in the backdrop of an internal rift between the department officials.He said govt would probe all aspects of the programme, including the source of funds from the sponsor.