What was meant to be a landmark moment for football in India has continued to cast a long shadow months later.
Satadru Dutta, the organiser behind Lionel Messi’s much-hyped “GOAT Tour” to India, has finally
spoken out about the controversy surrounding the chaos that broke loose at Salt Lake Stadium on December 13, 2025.
The Whole Debacle, As It Unfolded
The event was billed as a marquee spectacle, marking Messi’s return to the venue for the first time since 2011.
But it quickly spiralled into chaos.
Fans, many of whom had paid premium prices, were left frustrated after Messi’s appearance was brief and tightly restricted, leaving large sections of the crowd without a clear view. The disappointment soon boiled over into unrest inside and outside the stadium.
Protesters raised slogans demanding action against organisers and officials, including West Bengal’s then sports minister Aroop Biswas, accusing them of gross mismanagement.
The situation worsened as organisers were no longer visible on-site shortly after Messi’s exit, further fuelling anger among attendees.
Arrest, Bail, and Aftermath
In the days that followed, Dutta was arrested and later spent 37 days in custody before being granted bail by a Bidhannagar court on January 19.
Now, with the political landscape in West Bengal shifting, Dutta has gone public with his version of events — alleging that years of work were undone and his reputation damaged.
“Just because you have lost in the elections, don’t think that you have been punished. I will lodge a defamation case and, if necessary, will go to the Supreme Court. I will fight till the end,” Dutta said in a series of social media posts.
He also took aim at the handling of the event, writing, “Repeatedly, I told him… not to click pictures here. But he, using his power, went on to click photos. He will have to pay for this.”
“He is having a laugh while his own people infiltrate. No one heard my cry of anguish. Police also stood still.”
What Comes Next?
Dutta has vowed to reveal more details about the planning and execution of the event in an upcoming press conference, signalling that the controversy is far from over.
