Fans did not get proper glimpse of Messi; police arrest event organiser Satadru Dutta

KOLKATA: Further details have emerged about the violence that broke out during the event held in Kolkata as part of football legend Lionel Messi’s ‘GOAT Tour India’. The incident occurred at the Salt Lake Stadium after a large number of fans were unable to get a proper glimpse of the star footballer, leading to chaos inside the venue. Meanwhile, police have arrested the event’s main organiser, Satadru Dutta, in connection with the incident. He was taken into custody after an FIR was registered, citing serious lapses in the organisation of the event. Police said the organisers have agreed to refund the ticket money and that the process will be closely monitored.

Fans who had purchased tickets costing between Rs 5,000 and Rs 25,000 complained that they could not see Messi properly due to the heavy presence of security personnel and VIP guests. Disappointed fans began protesting by throwing chairs and bottles onto the field, triggering large-scale unrest inside the stadium. Messi arrived at the Yuva Bharati Salt Lake Stadium at around 11.15 am and stayed there for only about 20 minutes.

As the situation worsened, security personnel quickly escorted Messi out of the stadium, cutting short his planned round of the venue. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed regret over the poor conduct of the event and ordered a probe into the incident. A committee headed by retired Justice Asim Kumar Ray has been appointed to investigate the matter. Messi later left Kolkata for his next destination, Hyderabad.

As anger among fans intensified, police resorted to a lathi charge and deployed the Rapid Action Force to control the situation. Fans alleged that the problems arose because ministers and political leaders crowded around Messi, preventing ordinary spectators from seeing him properly.