New Delhi: West Bengal Police on Saturday detained the main organiser of the much-hyped Lionel Messi event at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium after large-scale chaos erupted following the Argentine football star’s brief appearance, which left thousands of fans angry and disappointed. Kolkata Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar said firm action was being taken against those responsible for the alleged mismanagement and assured ticket refunds to spectators.

Detention of main organiser

Addressing the media, DGP Rajeev Kumar confirmed that the principal organiser, Satadru Datta, had been detained for questioning. Datta was reportedly taken into custody from Kolkata airport, where he had gone to see off Messi and his entourage, who were travelling onward to Hyderabad as part of the GOAT India Tour 2025.

“We have already detained the main organiser. We are taking action to ensure this mismanagement does not go unpunished,” Kumar said. He added that the police would ensure accountability at every level and that legal proceedings would follow based on the findings of the investigation.

Refunds promised to spectators

The police chief said that the organisers had assured the authorities that ticket refunds would be provided to spectators who felt cheated by the event. “Peace has to be restored immediately. That has been taken care of. Traffic is normal and people have gone back home. The incident has been localised and limited to Salt Lake Stadium,” Kumar said, adding that law and order had been fully brought under control.

He described the episode as a “big incident” and stressed that the police were committed to ensuring that those responsible for the breakdown in arrangements would face strict action.

Chaos at Salt Lake Stadium

The incident unfolded at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, popularly known as Salt Lake Stadium, where thousands of fans had gathered to see Lionel Messi, many of whom had paid ticket prices ranging from a few thousand rupees to nearly ₹10,000. Expectations of a prolonged interaction or programme quickly turned into frustration when Messi made only a brief, tightly guarded appearance.

As word spread that the event would not continue, sections of the crowd began booing. Anger soon escalated into disorder, with reports of banners being torn down, plastic seats uprooted and thrown, and barricades damaged near the lower tiers. Police were forced to baton-charge in some areas to disperse agitated spectators who attempted to rush the field.

Messi’s brief appearance

Messi, the World Cup-winning Argentine captain, arrived at the stadium around 11.30 am, accompanied by his long-time strike partner Luis Suárez and teammate Rodrigo De Paul. It was Messi’s first appearance at the venue since 2011, a fact that had fuelled massive excitement among football fans in the city.

However, his presence on the field reportedly lasted only a few minutes, during which he remained surrounded by security personnel, officials and dignitaries, making him barely visible to much of the crowd. Many fans complained that they could not even get a clear glimpse of the football icon, despite the high ticket prices.

Chief Minister orders enquiry, apologises

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee responded swiftly to the incident, issuing a public apology to both Lionel Messi and the fans. In a post on X, Banerjee said she was “deeply disturbed and shocked” by the mismanagement at the stadium.

“I sincerely apologise to Lionel Messi, as well as to all sports lovers and his fans, for the unfortunate incident,” she wrote, adding that she herself was on her way to attend the event when the chaos unfolded.

Banerjee announced the constitution of a high-level enquiry committee under the chairmanship of retired Justice Ashim Kumar Ray. The committee will also include the Chief Secretary and the Additional Chief Secretary of the Home and Hill Affairs Department as members. “The committee will conduct a detailed enquiry into the incident, fix responsibility, and recommend measures to prevent such occurrences in the future,” she said.

Political and public reactions

The episode has sparked widespread criticism on social media, with fans accusing the organisers of overselling the event and failing to manage expectations. Several videos of the chaos, including visuals of vandalised seating and police action, went viral, further intensifying public scrutiny.

Opposition leaders also questioned how such a high-profile international event could be conducted without adequate crowd management and security planning. Many demanded strict action and compensation for spectators who travelled long distances to attend the programme.

Police assurance on law and order

Police officials maintained that the situation was brought under control within a short time and that no serious injuries were reported. Additional forces were deployed around the stadium complex to prevent further escalation, and exit routes were cleared to allow spectators to disperse safely.

DGP Rajeev Kumar reiterated that traffic movement in the area had returned to normal and that the disturbance did not spread beyond the stadium premises.

Conclusion

What was billed as a marquee football spectacle featuring one of the greatest players of all time turned into a major embarrassment for the organisers and authorities alike. With the main organiser detained, refunds promised, and a judicial enquiry ordered, the focus has now shifted to fixing responsibility and ensuring that such lapses do not recur. As investigations continue, the Salt Lake Stadium chaos is likely to remain a cautionary tale on the importance of planning, transparency and crowd management in high-profile sporting events.