Political Storm in Bengal After Chaos at Messi Event in Kolkata Stadium

Kolkata/New Delhi | December 13, 2025 A major political row has broken out in West Bengal after chaos erupted at a football event in Kolkata during the visit of Argentine football legend Lionel Messi. The incident took place on Saturday at the Vivekananda Yuvabharati Krirangan, commonly known as Salt Lake Stadium, where fans vandalised parts of the venue after Messi appeared on the pitch for only a brief period and then left, leaving thousands of spectators angry and disappointed. The event was part of Messi’s much-publicised “G.O.A.T. India Tour 2025” and had drawn massive crowds, with many fans paying high ticket prices in the hope of seeing the football icon up close. However, Messi reportedly exited the stadium within around 10 minutes due to what organisers described as mismanagement. This sudden departure triggered outrage among the audience, some of whom began protesting inside the stadium. Eyewitnesses said angry fans threw bottles, damaged hoardings, and broke stadium property as security personnel struggled to control the situation. Videos of the vandalism and unrest later surfaced on social media, showing the scale of the chaos. Messi and other VVIP guests were escorted out under tight security, while disappointed fans were left behind questioning the organisers and authorities. The incident quickly turned into a political flashpoint. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a strong attack on the Trinamool Congress (TMC)-led West Bengal government, calling the episode an “insult” to Bengal and its rich football culture. BJP leaders accused the state government of mismanagement and corruption, saying the incident had damaged the image of Kolkata, often called the football capital of India. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed regret over the events, saying she was deeply disturbed and shocked by what happened at the stadium. However, the BJP dismissed her apology, with party leaders accusing her of shedding “crocodile tears.” BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya said the chaos reflected systemic failures of the state administration and claimed that football fans had been emotionally hurt. Malviya demanded strict action, including fixing responsibility for the mismanagement and seeking resignations from those involved. He also called for an FIR to be registered against Sports Minister Aroop Biswas and cabinet minister Sujit Bose, and demanded that all spectators be given full refunds, especially those who paid between Rs 8,000 and Rs 10,000 for tickets. The BJP’s Bengal unit echoed these views, alleging that the government had bowed India’s head in shame before the world. The party accused the Trinamool Congress of politicising Messi’s visit and misleading fans with false promises. It also alleged a ticket scam and claimed that ordinary supporters suffered while influential people benefited from the event. The Congress also joined the criticism. Bengal Congress president Subhankar Sarkar said the incident showed a complete failure of the state’s administrative system. He added that the mishandling of a global football icon’s visit had harmed Bengal’s reputation internationally and said accountability must be fixed at the highest levels. The Trinamool Congress, however, denied responsibility for the chaos. Party spokesperson Tauseef Rehman said the event was organised by a private agency and not by the state government. Senior TMC leader Kunal Ghosh called the incident unfortunate but maintained that the government had already apologised to Messi and set up a probe panel to look into what went wrong. Ghosh also raised questions about slogans, vandalism, and whether the unrest inside the stadium was pre-planned. Responding to allegations about the presence of a particular flag and chants inside the stadium, BJP state president Shamik Bhattacharya said there was nothing unusual about it, claiming such symbols are now commonly seen across the state. As investigations continue, the incident has left football fans disappointed and sparked a heated political blame game, with questions being raised about planning, security, accountability, and the treatment of supporters who came to celebrate one of football’s greatest Political Storm in Bengal After Chaos at Messi Event in Kolkata Stadium What was meant to be a dream moment for football lovers in Kolkata turned into chaos on Saturday during Argentine legend Lionel Messi’s visit to the city. The event, held at the Vivekananda Yuvabharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium) as part of Messi’s “G.O.A.T. India Tour 2025,” ended abruptly after Messi appeared on the pitch for only about 10 minutes and then left due to reported mismanagement. Thousands of fans who had paid high ticket prices to see the football icon were left shocked and angry. As disappointment grew inside the packed stadium, some fans began protesting, which soon led to vandalism. Bottles were thrown, hoardings were damaged, and stadium property was vandalised before security personnel stepped in. Messi and other VVIPs were escorted out under tight security, while videos of the unrest quickly spread online. The incident soon sparked a major political row in West Bengal. The BJP strongly criticised the Trinamool Congress-led state government, calling the episode an insult to Bengal and its proud football culture. BJP leaders accused the government of poor planning and corruption, claiming the chaos had embarrassed Kolkata on a global stage. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee apologised for the incident, saying she was deeply disturbed by what happened. However, the BJP rejected her apology. BJP leader Amit Malviya demanded strict action, including resignations, FIRs against senior ministers, and full refunds for fans who paid between Rs 8,000 and Rs 10,000 for tickets. The Congress also blamed the state government, calling the incident an administrative failure that damaged Bengal’s image worldwide. Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress denied responsibility, saying the event was organised by a private agency. The party said a probe panel has been formed to investigate the incident and fix accountability. As the blame game continues, fans are still waiting for answers and justice, turning a celebration of football into a moment of deep disappointment.