Messi event chaos: Organiser detained, probe ordered as Mamata apologises

Chaos at the Salt Lake stadium here during a Lionel Messi event on Saturday escalated into a major law-and-order episode with police detaining the prime organiser for alleged mismanagement, even as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee ordered a high-level inquiry and apologised to fans who failed to see the football icon.
What was billed as a marquee sporting spectacle unravelled into disorder as thousands of spectators protested after being unable to get a clear glimpse of Messi, triggering vandalism inside the stadium and sharp political and administrative reactions later in the day.
Accompanied by long-time strike partner Luis Suárez and Argentine teammate Rodrigo De Paul, Messi, the World Cup-winning captain, arrived at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan around 11.30 am.
His vehicle was parked near the touchline and, as he stepped onto the field, he was quickly encircled by VIPs, organisers, celebrities and security personnel, leaving spectators in the galleries straining for a view.
Messi walked a short distance on the pitch and waved briefly towards the stands amid chants of “Messi, Messi”.
Fans, however, soon realised that he remained tightly cordoned off and barely visible from large sections of the stadium.
Several spectators complained that even the giant screens failed to provide a clear view.
Frustration mounted when it became evident that Messi would not complete the full lap of the stadium that was part of the original programme.
Instead, he turned back midway and was escorted out well before the scheduled end of his appearance.
As word spread that the football star had left prematurely, anger spilt over. Bottles and plastic chairs were hurled onto the pitch, sponsor banners and hoardings were torn down, fibreglass seats smashed, and sections of the crowd attempted to breach barricades to force their way onto the field.
Protesters raised slogans demanding the arrest of state Sports Minister Aroop Biswas and the event’s chief organiser Satadru Datta, accusing them of gross mismanagement.
Eyewitnesses said the situation worsened after organisers, including Datta and his team, were no longer visible on the ground soon after Messi’s exit.
Repeated announcements over the public address system asking unauthorised persons to vacate the field went largely unheeded as hundreds of spectators spilt onto the pitch, pulled down temporary tents and damaged equipment near the touchline.
Police personnel struggled to contain the surging crowd on the pitch, prompting the deployment of the Rapid Action Force inside the stadium. Some protesters were baton-charged to restore order, police sources said. “This was complete mismanagement,” said Ajay Shah, a football enthusiast who had come with his son. “People have spent a month’s salary to see Messi. I paid Rs 5,000 for a ticket. We came to watch Messi, not politicians.”
Ticket prices for the event ranged between Rs 4,500 and Rs 10,000, with many fans arriving early in the morning in the hope of seeing the football legend up close. The chaos forced an abrupt curtailment of the programme, with several invited dignitaries, including Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, unable to participate as planned.
Police sources said the situation did not fully spiral out of control, only because Messi was taken out of the stadium earlier than scheduled and additional security forces were rushed in.
Hours later, Banerjee expressed shock over the alleged mismanagement and announced the constitution of a high-level enquiry committee. In a post on X, she apologised to Messi and sports lovers who had gathered at the stadium.
“I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake Stadium,” she said, adding that thousands of fans had assembled at the venue hoping to catch a glimpse of the World Cup-winning star.
The inquiry committee will be chaired by retired Calcutta High Court judge Justice Ashim Kumar Ray, with the chief secretary and the additional chief secretary of the Home and Hill Affairs Department as members.
The panel will fix responsibility and recommend measures to prevent such incidents in the future, Banerjee said.
Meanwhile, Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar said the prime organiser of the event had been detained in connection with the incident.
“The plan was that he would come, wave, meet certain people and leave. The government has already constituted a committee which will look into all aspects, including whether there was any mismanagement on the organiser’s side,” Kumar said.
He added that the organiser had given an assurance in writing that he would refund the ticket prices sold to spectators.
“The situation is now under control,” the DGP said. TV channels, however, reported that the chief organiser has been arrested.
For a city that prides itself on its deep footballing culture, the scenes of broken chairs, ripped banners and angry fans stood in stark contrast to the promise of the day, as a much-anticipated Messi appearance ended in chaos at one of India’s largest football arenas.
AIFF issues statement following Lionel Messi’s GOAT Tour chaos in Kolkata
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Saturday issued a statement expressing deep concern over the events that unfolded at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata. Thousands of fans gathered to see football icon Lionel Messi as he visited the city as part of his GOAT Tour alongside Luis Suárez and Rodrigo de Paul, but their excitement turned to frustration due to poor management at the venue.
AIFF clarified that a private public relations agency organised the event and that the national football body had no role in the planning, organisation, or execution of the programme. The federation emphasised that it was neither informed about the details of the event nor was any clearance sought from it prior to the gathering.
“The All India Football Federation is deeply concerned by the events that transpired at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, where thousands of fans gathered to witness world football stars Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Rodrigo de Paul,” the AIFF said in a statement that they put out across social media.
“This was a private event organised by a PR agency. The AIFF was not involved in the organisation, planning, or execution of this event in any capacity. Furthermore, the details of the event were neither communicated to the AIFF nor was any clearance sought from the Federation. We urge all attendees to extend their full cooperation with the relevant authorities and to maintain order. The safety and security of all individuals involved must remain the paramount priority,” the statement further read.
The statement comes amid concerns over crowd management and safety following the high-profile appearance of international football stars, which drew massive public interest.
Amid chaos and vandalism at Salt Lake Stadium on the northern outskirts of Kolkata on Saturday, triggered by high ticket prices and limited access to Argentinian football star Lionel Messi during his visit, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced the formation of a judicial committee led by a retired judge of the Calcutta High Court to investigate the mismanagement that caused the incident chaos.
After knowing about the developments, the CM issued a statement announcing her decision to set up a judicial committee headed by a retired judge of the Calcutta High Court to probe the mismanagement that led to the chaos.