West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas, on Tuesday, stepped down following the chaos at an event featuring football superstar Lionel Messi last week.
In his resignation letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Biswas cited the ongoing investigation into the mismanagement during the Messi event as the reason for his decision to resign.
The highly anticipated return of Messi to Kolkata after 14 years on December 13 at Salt Lake Stadium (Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan) had quickly spiralled into disorder, turning what was meant to be a grand celebration into a scene of vandalism, fan outrage, and a political clash between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Several invited dignitaries, including Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, were unable to participate as planned due to the chaos.
The pandemonium began during the inaugural leg of Messi’s “GOAT India Tour 2025,” where he appeared alongside teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul.
Fans, who paid between Rs 4,000 and over Rs 12,000 for tickets, expected a full appearance or celebratory lap. Instead, Messi spent just 20 minutes on the field, heavily surrounded by officials, politicians, and security, leaving thousands unable to see him properly.
Frustrated spectators threw bottles and chairs onto the pitch, vandalized stadium property, and attempted to breach security gates. Messi was forced to leave early, while West Bengal Police arrested the main organiser, Satadru Dutta, and announced plans to refund tickets.
The event quickly sparked a political row.
BJP Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari called it a “TMC Loot-Fest at Yuva Bharati,” alleging senior TMC officials monopolised Messi’s time for personal publicity and sidelined fans. He demanded Biswas’ resignation, a full refund for ticket holders, and a High Court-led inquiry.
The TMC, while acknowledging administrative lapses, blamed the organisers.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed being “deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement,” issued a public apology to Messi and fans, and set up a high-level inquiry committee led by retired Calcutta High Court Judge Justice Ashim Kumar Ray, with the Chief Secretary and Home Secretary, to investigate and recommend preventive measures.
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