q Mamata apologises to fans, orders high-level inquiry q Tour organiser held
Kolkata/Raipur, Dec 13: 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.
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.
Bhutia calls chaos ‘disappointing’
Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia on Saturday expressed disappointment over the chaos at a stadium in Kolkata during an event attended by Argentine football icon Lionel Messi, and said organisers should ensure that such incidents do not recur as they hurt the country’s image.
Bhutia was talking to reporters at the airport here after returning from Jagdalpur where he attended the closing ceremony of Bastar Olympic 2025 event. (PTI)
