The proposed Kochi visit of footballer Lionel Messi was used as a ruse for a massive black money operation with the connivance of the Pinarayi Vijayan government, Ernakulam District Congress Committee president Mohammed Shiyas, MLA, has alleged. The sponsor and others had tried to take over the stadium in Messi’s name. “Who the sponsor is, and who stands behind him, will come out in the coming days,” Mr. Shiyas said. Mr. Shiyas further claimed that the narrative of Messi’s visit was fabricated to loot Kerala’s public assets and launder black money. He insisted that both the illegal construction at the Kaloor stadium and the black money transaction carried out in Messi’s name must be subjected to thorough investigation.