The State government is likely to order a probe into the alleged irregularities and procedural lapses in the previous LDF government’s efforts to bring football legend Lionel Messi and the Argentina team to the State.

Indicating the possibility of an investigation, Sports Minister O.J. Janeesh on Wednesday rejected former minister V. Abdurahiman’s defence of the proposal and alleged that government machinery was misused to facilitate financial gains for a private individual.

Mr. Janeesh said there was no substance in Mr. Abdurahiman’s claim that the government had not suffered any financial loss in connection with the proposed event. He alleged that official procedures were not followed from the beginning and that there was a lack of transparency in selecting the sponsor and dealing with the proposal.

The government machinery was misused for a private event management company. From the Chief Secretary to the District Collector, police and Greater Cochin Development Authority, the administrative machinery was used for a private individual, Mr. Janeesh alleged, while speaking to reporters here.

He said such actions created an opportunity for a private party to make substantial financial gains and, therefore, it was meaningless to argue that the government had suffered no loss.