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West Bengal DGP Rajiv Kumar held a press conference soon after scenes of chaos unravelled at the Salt Lake stadium, saying there was"some kind of anger"
The organiser of Argentine football legend, Lionel Messi’s Kolkata event was arrested after the World Cup-winning captain was forced to leave the field early following widespread chaos at the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee apologised to fans and supporters, who had paid to watch the event with tickets ranging from Rs 4,800 to a whopping Rs 25,000. She said the state government has formed a committee to look into the chaos and mismanagement at the venue, which is one of India’s largest football arenas.
The organiser, Satadru Dutta, was selling the tickets to the Messi event under ‘Satadru Dutta Initiative’. West Bengal DGP Rajiv Kumar held a press conference soon after scenes of chaos unravelled at the stadium, saying there was “some kind of anger".
“We will see all aspects…we have already detained the organiser, we are taking action," Rajiv Kumar told reporters.
He said the mismanagement was from the organiser’s side and they will refund the money spent on tickets for the event.
What was supposed to be a marquee football spectacle turned into widespread violence and disorder at the stadium after Messi’s brief and tightly ring-fenced appearance, his first at the venue since 2011, left large sections of the crowd frustrated as they failed to catch a glimpse of their superstar despite having paid hefty sums for tickets.
Protesters were seen raising slogans demanding the arrest of state sports minister Aroop Biswas and Satadru Dutta, holding them responsible for what they alleged was gross mismanagement of the high-profile event. The situation worsened after organisers, including Dutta and his team, were no longer visible on the ground soon after Messi’s exit.
HOW THE CHAOS UNFOLDED
Accompanied by long-time strike partner Luis Suárez and Argentine teammate Rodrigo De Paul, Messi 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 surrounded by VIPs, organisers, celebrities and security personnel, leaving spectators in the galleries straining for a view.
He walked a short distance on the pitch and waved briefly towards the stands amid loud chants of ‘Messi, Messi’. Fans, however, soon realised that he remained tightly cordoned off and was barely visible from large sections of the stadium. Several spectators said even the giant screens failed to offer a clear view.
Frustration mounted when it became evident that the footballer would not complete the full lap of the stadium that had been 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 he had left the field before time, anger spilled over. Bottles and plastic chairs were hurled onto the pitch, sponsor banners and hoardings were torn down, fibre-glass seats were smashed, and sections of the crowd attempted to rip open barricades to force their way onto the field.
Repeated announcements over the public address system asking unauthorised persons to leave the field went largely unheeded. Within minutes, hundreds of spectators spilled onto the pitch, pulling down temporary tents and damaging equipment placed near the touchline. Police personnel struggled to contain the surging crowd, prompting the deployment of the Rapid Action Force inside the stadium.
The chaos also forced an abrupt end to the programme, with several invited dignitaries, including Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly and the chief minister, unable to participate as planned.
WHAT DID MAMATA BANERJEE SAY?
Hours after the chaotic events of the morning, Banerjee expressed shock over the mismanagement and announced the constitution of a high-level inquiry committee.
In a post on X, she apologised to Messi and to sports lovers who had gathered at the stadium.
“I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake stadium," Banerjee said, adding that thousands of fans had assembled at the venue hoping to catch a glimpse of the World Cup-winning star.
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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. It will conduct a detailed probe into the incident, fix responsibility and recommend measures to prevent such occurrences in the future, Banerjee said.
(With agency inputs)
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First Published:
December 13, 2025, 15:00 IST
News india Messi's Kolkata Event Organiser Arrested, Bengal Govt Forms Committee To Look Into Chaos
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