The fallout from the chaotic Lionel Messi event at Kolkata’s iconic Salt Lake Stadium has taken a dramatic political turn, with West Bengal Sports Minister and senior Trinamool Congress leader Aroop Biswas reportedly resigning from his post on Tuesday. The resignation comes days after widespread allegations of mismanagement, vandalism, and crowd chaos marred the much-hyped Messi India GOAT Tour event, turning a celebration of football into a law-and-order nightmare.
According to reports, Biswas submitted his resignation letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, taking moral responsibility amid mounting criticism over the handling of the event. While the state government has not issued a detailed official statement yet, the move is being seen as an attempt to contain the political damage caused by the incident.
The controversy erupted on Saturday at the Yuva Bharati Krirangan, popularly known as Salt Lake Stadium, when thousands of fans gathered to catch a glimpse of football legend Lionel Messi. As crowds swelled, allegations of poor planning, inadequate security, and faulty entry systems surfaced. Frustrated fans accused organisers of forcing them to wait for hours without clear instructions, while confusion over ticket verification allegedly pushed the situation out of control.
Visuals that flooded social media showed broken barricades, damaged property, and heated confrontations inside the stadium. Angry supporters were seen venting their frustration, claiming that the organisers had completely failed to anticipate the turnout and manage the crowd safely.
Police action followed swiftly. The main organiser of the event, Satadru Dutta, was arrested within hours of the chaos. Subsequently, Bidhannagar Police arrested two more individuals — Gaurav Basu and Shubhrapratim Dey — from Kolkata’s Nagerbazar area after examining CCTV footage from inside the stadium. With these arrests, the total number of people taken into custody in connection with the vandalism has risen to five.
As the controversy snowballed, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee publicly apologised to Lionel Messi and the fans, acknowledging the embarrassment caused by the incident. However, the Opposition seized the moment, launching a sharp attack on the TMC government and accusing it of administrative failure and negligence at an international-level event.
Despite the turmoil in Kolkata, Messi’s India tour continued as scheduled. After leaving the city, the football icon visited Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi. On Tuesday, he arrived in Gujarat’s Jamnagar, where he is set to be hosted by industrialist Anant Ambani. Messi is expected to spend the night at Vantara, a wildlife rescue and conservation centre, before continuing his journey.
