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read also: Messi Kolkata Event Chaos: Organiser Arrested After Fan Unrest at Salt Lake Stadium
Datta was arrested by the Bidhannagar Police on Saturday from Kolkata airport, where he had gone to see off Messi and his entourage, who were travelling onward to Hyderabad. Police said, “the arrest was linked to crowd mismanagement and security lapses that led to unrest inside the stadium.”
Appearing before the court, Datta’s counsel argued that his client was being unfairly targeted and falsely implicated in the case.
“He is being victimised and framed. We expect the investigation over the next 14 days will bring clarity,” the lawyer told the court.
Meanwhile, BJP supporters staged a protest outside the court premises while Datta was being produced. The demonstration added to the political heat surrounding the incident.
What was billed as a grand football spectacle turned into scenes of disorder and violence after Messi’s tightly controlled and short appearance, his first at the Salt Lake venue since 2011. Large sections of the crowd were left disappointed after failing to catch even a glimpse of the football icon.
Many fans had travelled long distances and paid high ticket prices, only to leave frustrated, prompting outrage and demands for accountability over the handling of the event.
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Trinamool Congress spokesperson and state general secretary Kunal Ghosh demanded immediate action against the organisers, blaming their “overzealousness” and the presence of people crowding Messi to take selfies. He said this deprived spectators seated in the galleries of a clear view, leading to widespread frustration and anger.
Questioning the planning behind the event, Ghosh said the chaos forced Messi to leave the stadium prematurely and also prevented West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from attending the programme and formally welcoming him on behalf of the state. Calling the episode a major disappointment for sports lovers, he recalled Messi’s 2011 visit to Kolkata, saying the earlier event was well-organised and showcased the city in a positive light.
The Bharatiya Janata Party blamed the state government for the mess. BJP state president and Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya alleged that “fraudsters driven by greed” created the situation to make money. He accused Trinamool Congress leaders of backing self-promoting organisers who deprived genuine ticket holders of a proper glimpse of the football icon, thereby damaging the image of the state.
Union minister and senior BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar also criticised the Trinamool Congress and the state administration, holding them responsible for the breakdown of law and order during the high-profile event.
Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, launched a scathing attack on the government, alleging that ministers and leaders “clung to Messi like leeches” while fans who spent thousands of rupees were left watching the footballer briefly on giant screens. In a post on X, Adhikari accused Sports Minister Arup Biswas, Fire Minister Sujit Basu and the organisers of turning the programme into a money-making exercise. He demanded a full refund for gallery ticket holders, the arrest of those responsible and the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging the incident embarrassed West Bengal globally.
The Congress also joined the criticism. West Bengal Congress president Subhankar Sarkar described the episode as a case of terrible mismanagement and a mockery of law and order. He alleged that tickets were sold at exorbitant prices in Messi’s name while the footballer was surrounded only by Trinamool Congress leaders and their family members. Sarkar further claimed that crores of public money were spent for photo opportunities, calling it a new-age scam, and demanded accountability from the organisers, ministers, police officials and the local MLA.
Congress spokesperson Suman Roy Chaudhuri echoed similar concerns, questioning the role of the police administration and demanding legal action. He alleged that the incident exposed what he termed the commercial face of the government.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) also criticised the handling of the event. CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty termed the mismanagement a “black day” for West Bengal, blaming the Trinamool Congress government for failure of law and order. Drawing a comparison with the visits of football legend Diego Maradona during the Left Front regime, he alleged that profit-making took precedence over spectator safety and experience during Messi’s visit.
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The disorder broke out during Argentine football star Lionel Messi’s G.O.A.T India Tour 2025, when frustrated spectators entered the field and vandalised parts of the stadium, accusing the organisers of poor crowd and event management. Thousands of fans had gathered at the venue hoping to catch a glimpse of the football icon.
Banerjee said she was on her way to the Salt Lake Stadium to attend the programme, when the incident occurred. In a post on social media platform X, the chief minister issued a public apology to Messiand his supporters.
She said the unfortunate episode had caused embarrassment and distress to sports lovers across the state.
“I sincerely apologise to Lionel Messi, as well as to all sports enthusiasts and his fans, for what happened”, Banerjee wrote.
Announcing the enquiry, Banerjee said a committee would be set up under the chairmanship of retired Justice Ashim Kumar Ray. The panel will include the Chief Secretary and the Additional Chief Secretary of the Home and Hill Affairs Department as members.
According to the chief minister, the committee will carry out a comprehensive investigation into the events that led to the chaos, identify those responsible, and recommend corrective steps to ensure such incidents are not repeated in the future.
Reiterating her regret, Banerjee once again extended her apologies to sports lovers and fans affected by the disruption.
Messi’s brief visit to Kolkata ended in turmoil after angry fans breached security arrangements, when they failed to get a clear view of the football superstar during his fleeting 22-minute appearance at the Salt Lake Stadium earlier in the day.
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]]>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.
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]]>read also: Mamata Banerjee Orders High-Level Probe Into Chaos at Messi Event in Kolkata
The atmosphere inside the stadium deteriorated rapidly moments after Messi emerged from the tunnel. Frustrated spectators began throwing bottles and damaging fibreglass seats, forcing police personnel to step in and attempt to restore order. Security struggled to manage the swelling crowd as the situation spiralled beyond control.
The chaos led to the abrupt curtailment of the event, preventing several high-profile guests from participating. Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who were present for the programme, were unable to proceed as planned due to the disorder.
Promoter Shatadru Datta, organiser of the ‘GOAT Tour’, along with security officials, rushed Messi out of the venue to ensure his safety. The stadium witnessed further turmoil as supporters affiliated with the ruling Trinamool Congress reportedly breached security and entered the field of play, worsening the situation.
Fans, many of whom had paid between Rs 4,500 and Rs 10,000 for tickets, voiced strong resentment over the arrangements. Several complained of poor crowd management, lack of basic facilities, and inadequate security planning.
An aggrieved spectator, Ajay Shah, expressed his anger, saying that people had spent a significant portion of their income to see Messi, only to be left disappointed. He alleged mismanagement by organisers, claimed that even drinking water was unavailable, and accused authorities of focusing on selfies rather than crowd control.
The incident has raised serious questions about event planning and security preparedness for high-profile international appearances in the city.
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The disorder erupted inside the stadium as disappointed fans, many of whom had paid large sums for tickets, protested what they described as mismanagement and lack of planning. The situation escalated when spectators realised that crowding around Messi by organisers and their associates had blocked the gallery view.
Demanding action against those responsible, Trinamool Congress spokesperson and state general secretary Kunal Ghosh said the organisers’ ‘overzealous’ attempts to surround Messi and take selfies prevented genuine spectators from seeing the star, triggering widespread anger. He questioned why no strict action had been initiated despite the scale of the disruption.
Ghosh said the chaos forced Messi to leave the stadium early and also prevented West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from attending the event and welcoming him on behalf of the state. Calling the incident a major disappointment for sports lovers, he contrasted it with Messi’s earlier visit in 2011, which he recalled as being efficiently organised and widely praised.
The Bharatiya Janata Party echoed the criticism but, placed the blame squarely on the state government. BJP state president and Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya alleged that the situation was created by ‘fraudsters driven by greed’ who prioritised profit and publicity over proper arrangements for fans.
Bhattacharya further accused Trinamool Congress leaders of backing organisers focused on self-promotion, which, he claimed, deprived ticket-buying spectators of a clear view of the football icon. He said the episode had damaged West Bengal’s reputation.
Union Minister and senior BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar also condemned the Trinamool Congress and the state administration, holding them responsible for the mismanagement and chaos at the high-profile event.
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