West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has said the state government has initiated an internal process to refund ticket money to around 33,000 fans affected by the chaos surrounding Lionel Messi's Kolkata appearance in December 2025.
Messi's much-anticipated visit to Salt Lake Stadium on December 13 last year descended into controversy after overcrowding and alleged mismanagement left thousands of supporters unable to properly see the Argentina star despite paying for tickets.
The tickets were reportedly priced at Rs 4,000 and Rs 6,000, with fans subsequently demanding refunds.
Suvendu Adhikari Calls Messi Event A 'Big Scandal'
Addressing a programme to mark National Sports Day, Adhikari described the Messi event as a "big scandal" and said around 33,000 young football fans were deprived of
the opportunity to see the Argentine during his India tour.
"I have started an internal process to give an international feel to football lovers," Adhikari said, without providing further details on the mechanism or timeline for the refunds.
The announcement comes months after the event, with supporters having waited for clarity over whether their ticket money would be returned.
Adhikari said the refund process has now been initiated internally, although the government is yet to provide a specific date by which the money will reach the affected fans.
Bengal Government Announces Rs 400 Crore Sports Budget
The Messi event controversy was raised as Adhikari outlined a wider plan to improve sports infrastructure in West Bengal.
The state government has earmarked Rs 400 crore for sports in its budget, with Adhikari saying more funds could be allocated as part of the government's efforts to strengthen the sporting ecosystem.
He also announced plans to introduce indoor stadiums across all 294 Assembly constituencies. Each facility, according to Adhikari, will be named after Sri Aurobindo.
The Chief Minister also criticised the previous TMC government, accusing it of failing to provide adequate support and infrastructure for the state's sporting talent.
"We have to see where West Bengal lacks. What is the reason behind the fallen motivation of our sporting talents so far?" he said.
Messi Event Became Political Flashpoint
Messi's appearance at Salt Lake Stadium was one of the most anticipated sporting events in Kolkata, but the arrangements quickly became a source of public anger.
The controversy subsequently became a political issue, with the previous administration facing criticism over the organisation of the event.
Adhikari also called for greater separation between politics and sports administration, arguing that sporting bodies should not be controlled by politicians.
"No sports organisation and federation should be influenced by and helmed by politicians. MPs and MLAs should not run the show," he said.
For the thousands of fans who paid to watch Messi in Kolkata, however, the immediate focus is on the promised refunds. While the government says the process has begun, the timeline for the money to actually reach the 33,000 supporters remains unclear.
