Mamata Banerjee apologizes after chaos forces Messi to cut short Kolkata appearance

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on December 12 issued a public apology to football legend Lionel Messi and his fans after chaos broke out at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium, forcing the Argentine superstar to leave the venue within minutes of his arrival and triggering angry protests by disappointed supporters.

“I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake Stadium,” Banerjee said in a post on X, adding, “I sincerely apologise to Lionel Messi, as well as to all sports lovers and his fans, for the unfortunate incident.”

The chief minister said she was on her way to the Vivekananda Yuvabharati Krirangan when reports of crowd unrest and disorder emerged from the stadium, where thousands of fans — many of whom had paid premium ticket prices — were expecting an extended appearance by the World Cup winner.

High-level inquiry ordered

In response to the incident, Banerjee announced the formation of a high-level enquiry committee to investigate the lapses that led to the chaos. The panel will be headed by retired Calcutta High Court judge Justice Ashim Kumar Ray, with the state Chief Secretary and the Additional Chief Secretary (Home and Hill Affairs) as members.

The committee has been tasked with conducting a detailed probe, fixing responsibility and recommending corrective measures to ensure such incidents are not repeated at major public events in the state.

BJP mounts attack

The opposition BJP was quick to seize on the episode, accusing the Trinamool Congress government of gross mismanagement and alleging that it had damaged Bengal’s storied football legacy.

In a post on X, the BJP’s West Bengal unit shared visuals of the unrest inside the stadium, invoking a famous Bengali film song celebrating the state’s football culture. “Bengal and football were always synonymous. But after @MamataOfficial came to power, that culture was destroyed,” the post said, calling the chaos surrounding Messi’s visit a blot on the city’s sporting identity.

Amit Malviya, BJP national IT cell chief, termed the episode a “huge disgrace” and a “major scam”, alleging that ticket buyers who paid between ₹8,000 and ₹10,000 were misled. He claimed Messi was rushed out due to “extremely poor management” and demanded the resignation of State Sports Minister Aroop Biswas.

“By God’s grace, no major tragedy occurred,” Malviya said, referring to scenes of vandalism and crowd surge inside the stadium.

Fans erupt after Messi’s brief appearance

What was billed as a once-in-a-lifetime moment for Kolkata’s football faithful unravelled rapidly after Messi left the field in under 10 minutes. Sections of the crowd, angered by what they described as unmet promises and poor planning, began protesting inside the stadium.

Eyewitnesses said bottles were thrown, hoardings damaged and security personnel struggled to control the situation as tensions escalated. Messi and other VVIPs were escorted out under heavy security, leaving thousands of fans frustrated and disappointed. Videos of damaged signage and agitated spectators later flooded social media, in stark contrast to the festive scenes that marked Messi’s arrival in the city earlier in the day.

“We paid ₹12,000 but could not even see his face,” a fan said, alleging that political leaders and celebrities were given priority access.

Visit cut short over security concerns

Kolkata was the first stop on Messi’s three-day India tour, which also includes Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi. He arrived in the city shortly after midnight on December 13 to massive crowds outside the airport.

Earlier in the day, Messi virtually unveiled a 70-foot statue at the Sree Bhumi Sporting Club in Lake Town alongside state minister Sujit Bose and actor Shah Rukh Khan. He was also scheduled to meet Banerjee and former India captain Sourav Ganguly. However, following the unrest at the stadium and rising security concerns, Messi reportedly left for the airport earlier than planned, cutting short his remaining engagements before departing for Hyderabad.