Kolkata, India – The Kolkata Police have revealed significant details regarding the chaotic Lionel Messi event at Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday, pointing to last-minute changes and mismanagement as primary factors. The event, part of Messi's GOAT India Tour 2025, was marred by unruly behavior from fans, leading to the arrest of chief organizer Satadru Dutta.
According to Bidhannagar Police Commissioner Mukesh Kumar, the event was initially scheduled to last nearly two hours but was abruptly cut down to a mere 20 minutes, sparking outrage among attendees. "When you cut a 1 hour 40-minute event to 20 minutes, this is bound to happen," stated Kumar, highlighting the clear mismanagement that led to the fiasco.
The police also disclosed that they were not informed about the expanded guest list for the event. Furthermore, despite a strict no-water-bottle policy, spectators were allowed to bring water bottles inside, contributing to the objects thrown onto the field during the chaos. "No permission for water bottles was given. The additional guest list was not given to us," Kumar added.
Satadru Dutta was apprehended at Kolkata airport as he was seeing off Messi and his team to Hyderabad. A Bidhannagar court has since remanded him to 14-day police custody, denying his bail plea. Dutta faces multiple charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including provocation with intent to cause a riot, mischief, and deterring a public servant from duty. He has also been booked under the West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order Act and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
In response to the incident, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has apologized to Lionel Messi and has formed a high-level inquiry committee to investigate the matter. The committee, led by former Justice of Calcutta High Court Ashim Kumar Ray, has already visited Salt Lake Stadium for a ground inspection. Banerjee expressed her disturbance and shock at the mismanagement, vowing to assign responsibility and prevent future occurrences.
Eyewitness accounts from police officials on duty inside the stadium revealed that the situation escalated rapidly when fans realized Messi's appearance was cut short. "The crowd started shouting 'boo boo', and we could sense their dissatisfaction. Messi's security team swiftly escorted him out, and as fans saw him leave, they began throwing bottles, chairs, and other objects onto the field," the officer stated.
Dutta's lawyer, Dyutman Bhattacharya, argued that his client was being framed and offered full cooperation with the police. However, the court sided with the police, emphasizing the importance of the case.
The incident has cast a shadow over Messi's GOAT India Tour 2025, which includes scheduled events in Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi. While the Kolkata leg ended in disarray, Messi had a successful outing in Hyderabad, receiving a grand reception and participating in an exhibition match.
