Complaint Filed Over Alleged Sabotage of Messi’s Kolkata Event
The controversy surrounding Lionel Messi’s much-publicized India tour has taken a dramatic legal turn. Satadru Dutta, the chief organiser of Messi’s 2025 G.O.A.T. India Tour, has filed a formal police complaint against former West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas and several senior officials, accusing them of sabotaging the grand football event held at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.
The complaint was lodged at Bidhannagar South Police Station in Kolkata and names former Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar, New Alipore councillor Juin Biswas, and IAS officer Santanu Basu along with Aroop Biswas. Dutta alleges that their actions disrupted security arrangements and caused large-scale mismanagement during Messi’s appearance.
What Happened During Messi’s Kolkata Visit?
Lionel Messi arrived in India in December 2025 as part of his highly anticipated G.O.A.T. India Tour. Thousands of football fans gathered at Salt Lake Stadium, hoping to see the Argentine superstar and his teammates, including Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul.
However, the event quickly descended into chaos. Due to overcrowding, ticketing confusion, and security concerns, Messi’s scheduled appearance was cut short to just a few minutes. Frustrated fans vandalized stadium property, and police had to intervene to restore order. The incident became one of the biggest controversies in Indian sports event management.
Organiser Levels Serious Allegations
In his complaint, Satadru Dutta claims that Aroop Biswas misused his political influence and interfered with the event despite not being officially part of the organizing team. Dutta alleges that repeated security instructions were ignored and that Messi himself became visibly uncomfortable due to the breakdown in protocol.
Dutta has maintained that he was unfairly blamed and later arrested for the mismanagement, while the role of influential officials was overlooked. He has also announced plans to pursue a ₹100 crore defamation case against those he believes damaged his reputation.
Fresh Investigation Ordered
West Bengal’s new Sports and Youth Welfare Minister, Nishith Pramanik, has ordered a fresh review of all files related to the Messi event fiasco. He stated that if any evidence of corruption or administrative negligence is found, strict action will be taken.
The new investigation is expected to examine ticketing practices, crowd control measures, and the role of public officials during the event.
Fans Hope for Accountability
The Messi event was supposed to be a landmark moment for Indian football enthusiasts, but it instead became a symbol of poor planning and administrative conflict. Fans who paid significant amounts to watch the football legend were left disappointed.
With legal complaints now filed and a new government review underway, supporters hope that responsibility will be fixed and that future international sporting events in India will be managed more professionally.
