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Following the chaos in Kolkata, at least 1,000 additional security personnel have been deployed for Argentinian icon Lionel Messi’s GOAT event, scheduled to be held at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday.
According to a senior police officer, around 30,000 people, including VVIP guests, are expected to attend the event at the stadium. “Elaborate security arrangements have been made, with 2,500 personnel deployed in and around the stadium to manage the crowd and prevent any untoward incidents,” the officer said.
The event will be held at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, located in central Delhi, from 1 pm to 4 pm on Monday.
Sources said that earlier, the Delhi Police had decided to deploy 1,500 personnel for security arrangements during the event. However, following the ruckus at the event in Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium, the Delhi Police increased the strength. The police have also decided to deploy around 10 deputy commissioner of police (DCP)-rank officers at various points in and outside the stadium.
Besides this, around 100 traffic police personnel, led by a DCP and two assistant commissioners of police, will be deployed outside the stadium.
Another senior officer said that no water bottles, hoardings, or bags would be allowed inside the stadium during the event. A traffic advisory will be issued on Monday.
The police have held multiple rounds of meetings with members of the organising committee to ensure the event is conducted smoothly, the officer added.
Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium witnessed chaos on Saturday as thousands of football fans, angered by Lionel Messi’s extremely brief visit to the venue, broke seats, tore down banners, and hurled water bottles. The police later arrested the event organiser, Shatadru Dutta.
Dutta, the organiser of Messi’s three-day ‘GOAT India Tour 2025’ across Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi, was arrested after Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee set up an inquiry committee to look into the “unfortunate incident” at the stadium, saying she was “deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed” at the venue.
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