CHAOS AND pandemonium broke out at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Saturday as thousands of football fans, angry and disappointed they could hardly catch a glimpse of Argentinian soccer superstar Lionel Messi at the stadium, tore down banners, hurled water bottles and chairs, and ransacked the ground.
He arrived at the stadium at about 11.30 am and walked around the ground, but was surrounded by a barricade of security as well as VIPs, and others. Since fans in the stadium could not get to see him, they became restless, started shouting
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“We want Messi… we want Messi”, and finally breached the barricades and stepped inside the ground. Despite repeated requests, the field was not cleared and the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner, who was waving at the fans, ultimately had to be escorted out at around 11.53 am.
While former Indian cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly was at the stadium and met Messi and shook hands, actor Shahrukh Khan arrived, but didn’t go inside the stadium. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee too was near the stadium.
With things turning ugly at the venue, Banerjee apologised to Messi, expressed shock at the mismanagement, and announced the setting up an inquiry committee to be chaired by a retired judge. “I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake Stadium. I was on my way to the stadium to attend the event along with thousands of sports lovers and fans who had gathered to catch a glimpse of their favourite footballer, Lionel Messi. I sincerely apologise to Lionel Messi, as well as to all sports lovers and his fans, for the unfortunate incident,” she said on social media platform X.
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Fans vandalise a portion of the stands at the Salt Lake Stadium shortly after Messi’s exit from the field. (Express Photo by Sayak Dutta)
The Kolkata police soon arrested event organiser Satadra Dutta. An event manager, he is originally a resident of Rishra of Hoogly district and resides at Lake Town of North Kolkata. He is known to be close to Sourav Ganguly and many top TMC leaders. However, according to police officials, he has no experience of organising big events. After the incident, TMC leaders have denied any association with Dutta.
The Chief Minister said the inquiry committee, chaired by Justice (Retd) Ashim Kumar Ray and including the Chief Secretary and Additional Chief Secretary, Home and Hill Affairs Department, will fix responsibility and recommend measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.
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After Dutta’s arrest, Jawed Shamim, Additional Director General (Law and Order), said, “We are looking into where the problem arose. We have to restore peace. Traffic is normal; no injury or major incident happened. Shatadru, the main organiser, has been arrested. All those responsible will be punished.”
“There was some kind of anger or anxiety in the fans, seeing that he was not playing. The plan was that he would come here, wave, meet certain people and leave. Now the government has already constituted a committee that will look into all aspects, including whether there was any mismanagement on the organiser’s side or anything else,” West Bengal Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar said. “The organiser is giving in writing to those who are concerned that the tickets which have been sold should be refunded,” he said.
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West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose, however, questioned the role of the police and the lack of management and planning. “Who is responsible for this? Where was the police? Yesterday, I had anticipated certain things based on certain information from the common man who had called me. Instructions were given to the state government, none of which were taken in.”
Later around 7 pm, he reached the stadium for a ground report, but all gates were locked. “Truth will come out. I will come again. My report is half ready, I want an explanation from the authorities why the gates closed. This is not how the authorities treat a Governor,” he said.
People barge into the ground after breaking chairs and the gates tjhat separated the stands from the field. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)
Earlier in the day, Messi had stepped onto the field amidst loud cheers from fans in the gallery. However, the mood quickly shifted as the crowd began booing and expressing anger when they failed to see Messi properly, since he was surrounded by security personnel.
The Argentinian soccer star was soon ushered out of the stadium amidst security concerns, after spending less than 20 minutes at the venue.
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“We paid so much for the tickets, and we could not see Messi. Ministers and VVIPs are busy clicking selfies. Then why did we pay so much?” an angry fan was heard asking.
Messi arrived in Kolkata at around 2.30 am on Saturday. Thousands of fans reached Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport to welcome the football legend, who arrived alongside long-time strike partner Luis Suárez and Argentina teammate Rodrigo De Paul.
At 10.30 am, Messi virtually inaugurated his 70-ft statue, which shows him holding the FIFA World Cup trophy, at Lake Town from the hotel he was staying in. West Bengal minister Sujit Bose said that Messi and his team had given their consent for the statue. “We have talked to his manager. He gave his consent for the statue, and they are also happy,” he said.
Security forces take cover using broken chairs thrown on the pitch by angry fans at the Salt Lake Stadium pitch after the Argentine football legend left the Kolkata venue in 20 minutes today. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)
According to Bose, it took 40 days to complete the statue. “This is a very big statue, 70 feet in height. There is no other statue of Messi this big in the world,” he added.
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After his Kolkata appearance, Messi is set to fly to Hyderabad. The tour continues in Mumbai on day two, before wrapping up in New Delhi on Monday.
Fans vandalise a portion of the stands at the Salt Lake Stadium shortly after Messi’s exit from the field. (Express Photo by Sayak Dutta)
Fans pose amidst the ruins of banners and chairs during the Kolkata leg of Lionel Messi’s GOAT Tour inside the Salt Lake Stadium. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)
People barge into the ground after breaking chairs and the gates tjhat separated the stands from the field. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)
Security forces take cover using broken chairs thrown on the pitch by angry fans at the Salt Lake Stadium pitch after the Argentine football legend left the Kolkata venue in 20 minutes today. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)
