In an extraordinary move, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee issued a public apology to global football icon Lionel Messi and his legion of fans on Wednesday, following unprecedented chaos and vandalism at the Salt Lake Stadium during the Argentine star’s visit. The event, intended as a celebratory glimpse of the living legend, descended into a nightmarish scene of crowd fury, security breaches, and infrastructural damage, casting a long shadow over the city’s sporting culture just months before state elections.
“I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake Stadium. I sincerely apologise to Lionel Messi, as well as to all sports lovers and his fans, for the unfortunate incident,” said Banerjee, who was herself en route to the event when the situation spiraled out of control. The Chief Minister announced the constitution of a high-level inquiry committee to investigate the fiasco.
The committee will be chaired by retired Justice Ashim Kumar Ray, with the state Chief Secretary and the Additional Chief Secretary of the Home and Hill Affairs Department as members. “The committee will conduct a detailed enquiry into the incident, fix responsibility, and recommend measures to prevent such occurrences in the future,” Banerjee stated.
Messi’s arrival in Kolkata, the first leg of his three-day ‘GOAT’ tour of India, had generated fever-pitch excitement. After a quiet unveiling of his statue in New Town, he proceeded to the colossal Salt Lake Stadium, where thousands had gathered since the early hours, many having paid between ₹3,500 and ₹14,000 for tickets.
However, the anticipated half-hour appearance quickly unraveled. Fans, reportedly unable to get a clear view of their hero, grew restless. Accusations flew that “inept Trinamool leaders” and VIPs had surrounded the stage, blocking the view for paying attendees. This frustration soon boiled over into a violent outburst.
Hundreds breached security cordons, storming onto the ground. The scene turned ugly as sections of the crowd began throwing water bottles, chairs, and other objects. Parts of the stadium infrastructure were vandalized as police struggled to regain control. With safety concerns mounting, organizers, including promoter Shatadru Dutta, were forced to whisk Messi away from the venue, abruptly cutting short the program.
The chaos meant that other dignitaries, including Chief Minister Banerjee, superstar Shah Rukh Khan, and former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, could not participate in the event as planned.
The incident provided immediate ammunition to the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which launched a scathing attack on the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) for “sheer mismanagement” and “political one-upmanship.”
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala called it a “total embarrassment on an international stage,” criticizing the lack of planning and security for a global icon. “CM Mamata Banerjee can't even organise or manage an event,” he stated.
Amit Malviya, head of the BJP’s IT cell, was more severe, terming the episode a “huge disgrace” that would be “etched in the pages of history forever.” He demanded the immediate resignation of State Sports Minister Aroop Biswas. “For bringing an international player like Messi to West Bengal, playing with the emotions of ordinary people, and pushing them towards such serious risk, the State Sports Minister must resign immediately,” Malviya said.
The Chief Minister’s apology and the swift announcement of a judicial probe are seen as damage-control measures aimed at addressing both public anger and the political fallout. The inquiry committee’s findings will be keenly watched, with its mandate to fix responsibility potentially putting several officials and organizers in the line of fire.
For the thousands of fans who left disappointed and for the city of Kolkata, which prides itself on its deep footballing passion, the day marks a significant stain. The incident raises serious questions about crowd management, transparency in event organization, and the prioritization of VIP culture over paying spectators. As Messi’s tour moves to its next stop, Kolkata is left to pick up the pieces and await answers from Justice Ray’s committee, hoping such a spectacle of mismanagement is never repeated.
Leave Your Comment