Kolkata Police have arrested the organiser of the event linked to Argentine football star Lionel Messi’s visit to the Salt Lake Stadium after chaos erupted due to his extremely brief appearance, which left most fans unable to see the global icon.
read also: Messi Event Chaos in Kolkata Draws Fire from Both TMC and BJP
Messi’s much-publicised India tour ran into controversy at its very first stop in Kolkata, where crowd unrest forced police intervention and brought the event organisers under intense scrutiny.
The GOAT India Tour 2025, promoted by Satadru Dutta under the banner A Satadru Dutta Initiative, began with massive fan enthusiasm but, quickly descended into disorder at the Vivekananda Yuvabharati Krirangan.
As tensions flared inside the stadium, West Bengal Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar addressed the media, stating that law and order had been restored. He acknowledged that fans were upset after expecting Messi to either play or spend more time on the field. Kumar clarified that the event plan only involved Messi briefly appearing, greeting the crowd, meeting select guests, and leaving.
The DGP confirmed that the state government had constituted a committee to examine all aspects of the incident, including possible lapses by the organisers. He added that the organisers had given written assurances that refunds would be issued to ticket holders who were dissatisfied with the event. The main organiser was detained as part of the inquiry.
Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Javed Shamim later said a formal investigation had been initiated. He noted that responsibility had not yet been fixed and that accountability would be determined once the probe was completed. Shamim also confirmed that the situation in and around the stadium had returned to normal.
Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as Messi’s planned lap around the stadium failed to materialise. Soon after he entered the field, the footballer was surrounded by politicians, officials, celebrities, their family members, and photographers. The heavy crowding around Messi prompted his security team to abandon the lap, severely limiting his interaction with fans seated in the galleries.
Kolkata marked the opening leg of Messi’s three-day India tour, which is scheduled to continue in Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi. While authorities insist that calm has been restored, the troubled start has shifted attention from celebration to accountability, with organisers facing serious questions and fans awaiting the promised ticket refunds.
Discussion about this post