Lionel Messi's Event Organiser Satadru Dutta Sent To 14-Day Police Custody After Kolkata Stadium Mess

The Bidhannagar court has sent the promoter and organiser of star footballer Lionel Messi's G.O.A.T India Tour 2025, Satadru Dutta, to 14 days of police custody. The development comes a day after disorder prevailed inside the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata during the football star's highly anticipated event. What was meant to be a red-letter day for football fans in the City of Joy on Saturday turned into a virtual nightmare, with “less of Messi” and more of what many described as a “royal mess”. Messi's Kolkata appearance ended in chaos after fans alleged that the presence of VIPs and politicians on the pitch deprived them of a proper glimpse of the World Cup-winning superstar, for whom they had bought tickets.Fans, who had paid between Rs 4,500

and Rs 10,000 for tickets, hurled bottles and damaged fibreglass seats, after they barely got to see the Argentine star, forcing the police to intervene as they struggled to bring the situation under control. They alleged that supporters of the ruling Trinamool Congress breached security and entered the field of play. Satadru Dutta, along with security personnel, had to whisk Messi away from the stadium. Following the chaos, Dutta was picked up from the airport, as he was headed with Messi to Hyderabad, and was arrested by cops for questioning.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPjsiypmg1M&pp=0gcJCSkKAYcqIYzv

Also Read:Who Is Responsible for ‘Messi Mess’? ‘Shocked’ Mamata Banerjee Says Sorry as TMC Minister Faces Backlash, Orders Probe

Messi 'mess' sparks political row in Bengal

The mismanagement sparked a political row, with Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar accusing the West Bengal government. Majumdar alleged that the event was hijacked by Trinamool Congress leaders, claiming that both the organisers and those surrounding Messi were linked to the ruling party.Speaking to ANI, Majumdar said, "This is the mismanagement of the West Bengal government... The organisers were people from TMC itself, and now TMC is trying to show that they are separate, but they are not; both are the same. TMC leaders were present there, and they tried to hijack this event. Whoever was around Messi, all of them were TMC people."West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her shock at the mismanagement and tendered an apology to Messi."I sincerely apologise to Lionel Messi, as well as to all sports lovers and his fans, for the unfortunate incident," her post on X read.

Meanwhile, a probe has been ordered under the chairmanship of Justice (Retd.) Ashim Kumar Ray, with the Chief Secretary and the Additional Chief Secretary, Home and Hill Affairs Department, as members.(With agency inputs)