Chaos at Messi event: How pandemonium unfolded at Salt Lake Stadium? Mamata Banerjee apologises to fans, orders high-level inquiry to probe…

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee issued an apology to football fans and announced the formation of an high-level inquiry committee to pinpoint the shortcomings and mismanagement that resulted in chaos at Kolkata’s Salt Lake stadium where football star Lionel Messi was scheduled for a marquee event.

Mamata apologises to fans, order inquiry

Following the pandemonium at the Lionel Messi event, Mamata Banerjee took to X, and apologised to Messi and sports lovers who had gathered at the stadium. Expressing shock over the alleged mismanagement, Banerjee announced the constitution of a high-level enquiry committee which is being tasked with fixing responsibility and recommend measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

“I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake Stadium,” she said, adding that thousands of fans had assembled at the venue hoping to catch a glimpse of the World Cup-winning star.

The chief minister said the probe committee will be chaired by retired Calcutta High Court judge Justice Ashim Kumar Ray, with the chief secretary and the additional chief secretary of the Home and Hill Affairs Department as members.

How chaos unfolded at Messi event?

Earlier, chaotic scenes unfolded at the Salt Lake stadium when a high-profile Lionel Messi event descended into a major law-and-order episode with police detaining the prime organiser for alleged mismanagement. Pandemonium erupted at the Messi event as thousands of fans protested after being unable to get a clear glimpse of the football icon, and vandalised the stadium, leading to clashes with the police.

Lionel Messi, accompanied by long-time strike partner Luis Suárez and Argentine teammate Rodrigo De Paul, had arrived at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan around 11.30 am.

The World Cup-winning captain stepped onto the field amid deafening chants of “Messi, Messi”, and was quickly encircled by VIPs, organisers, celebrities and security personnel, leaving spectators in the galleries straining for a view.

However, fans soon realised that Messi remained tightly cordoned off and barely visible from large sections of the stadium, with many complaining that even the giant screens failed to provide a clear view.

What led to protests at Salt Lake Stadium?

Soon, frustration grew among fans as they realised that Messi would not complete the full lap of the stadium that was part of the original programme. The football star turned back midway and was escorted out well before the scheduled end of his appearance, triggering protests from angry fans, who hurled bottles and plastic chairs onto the field.

The situation devolved as spectators tore down sponsor banners and hoardings, smashed the fibreglass seats, while many tried to breach barricades to force their way onto the field, amid slogans demanding the arrest of state Sports Minister Aroop Biswas and the event’s chief organiser Satadru Datta, accusing them of gross mismanagement.

According to eyewitness accounts, the situation worsened after the organisers, including Datta and his team, were no longer visible on the ground soon after Messi’s exit.

Repeated announcements over the public address system asking unauthorised persons to vacate the field went largely unheeded as hundreds of spectators spilt onto the pitch, pulled down temporary tents and damaged equipment near the touchline, even as the police struggled to contain the surging crowd on the pitch, prompting the deployment of the Rapid Action Force inside the stadium.

Fans baton charged, organiser arrested

Police said the protesters were baton-charged to restore order, stating that the situation did not fully spiral out of control, only because Messi was taken out of the stadium earlier than scheduled and additional security forces were rushed in.

Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar said the prime organiser of the event had been detained in connection with the incident.

“The plan was that he would come, wave, meet certain people and leave. The government has already constituted a committee which will look into all aspects, including whether there was any mismanagement on the organiser’s side,” Kumar said, adding that the organiser had given an assurance in writing that he would refund the ticket prices sold to spectators.

“The situation is now under control,” the DGP said.

Fans express outrage

Meanwhile, football fans expressed their outrage at the alleged “mismanagement”. “People have spent a month’s salary to see Messi. I paid Rs 5,000 for a ticket. We came to watch Messi, not politicians,” said Ajay Shah, a football enthusiast who had come with his son.

As per reports, ticket prices for the marquee event ranged between Rs 4,500 and Rs 10,000, with many fans arriving early in the morning in the hope of seeing the football legend up close.

The pandemonium forced an abrupt curtailment of the programme, with several invited dignitaries, including Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, former India(BHARAT) cricket captain Sourav Ganguly and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, unable to participate as planned.

(With PTI inputs)