As part of the first leg of his GOAT India Tour, Messi was in Kolkata when thousands of fans crowded the venue hoping to see him.
Messi Fans Angry as Kolkata Event Turns Chaotic; Mamata Banerjee Orders Probe
On Saturday, 13th December, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee expressed that she was deeply disturbed and shocked by the chaos at Salt Lake Stadium during football great Lionel Messi’s appearance. She offers a public apology to the Argentine icon and his fans for what she called mismanagement.
As part of the first leg of his GOAT India Tour, Messi was in Kolkata when thousands of fans crowded the venue hoping to see him. Many spectators were left frustrated as the global superstar’s appearance lasted only about 22 minutes and physical access to him was limited. Some in the crowd turned angry, threw bottles and chairs, damaged stadium property and created chaos when they couldn’t get a proper glimpse of Messi inside the Yuva Bharati Krirangan.
On social media platform X, In an official post, Banerjee acknowledged the disorder that happened as she was en route to the stadium along with thousands of sports lovers. “I sincerely apologise to Lionel Messi, as well as to all sports lovers and his fans, for the unfortunate incident,” she penned and added that the mismanagement was unacceptable.
Banerjee announced the formation of a detailed enquiry committee to address accountability. The panel will be chaired by Retired Justice Ashim Kumar Ray and include the state’s Chief Secretary and the Additional Chief Secretary (Home and Hill Affairs) as members. According to the chief minister, this committee will investigate the causes of the disorder, fix responsibility, and propose measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The incident has triggered widespread criticism from fans and political opponents who called it a failure of planning and crowd control for an event featuring one of the world’s most celebrated athletes. Ticket prices at the stadium reportedly ranged up to INR 18,000, intensifying the frustration among spectators who felt short-changed by the limited visibility and organisation.
Banerjee’s apology comes amid increasing scrutiny of the handling of high-profile events, and the probe committee’s findings are now awaited by both supporters and critics.
Source: Hindustan Times
